PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to support Maya, the country's #1 digital bank app and money platform, in building "digi-palengkes" through Paleng-QR PH, boosting digital payments in the Visayas.

“We share in the Cebuanos’ pride as we launch the Paleng-QR Ph Plus here in Lapu-Lapu City. It is an honor to be here as we mark this milestone in our financial inclusion mission. The people of Lapu-Lapu City can now enjoy the benefits of cashless payments,” said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.

“We are honored to support BSP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program reaches more cities and municipalities in the Visayas. Together with Maya, we at Smart will continue to push for digital payments by boosting our network to serve the connectivity needs of our Oponganon merchants, drivers, and customers,” said Alexis Winters, Assistant Vice President for Regional Customer Development for Visayas and Mindanao at Smart.

Paleng-QR Ph Plus is a program spearheaded by the BSP and the DILG that encourages market vendors and tricycle drivers to adopt cashless transactions using the national QR code standard, QR Ph, allowing fast and safe transactions between merchants and customers.

Lapu-Lapu City is the second local government to roll out the program in Visayas and the first in Cebu province. Maya assisted Lapu-Lapu City Public Market vendors and tricycle drivers in setting up their own Maya accounts and QR Ph codes.

Salima Ymbong, a Maya user and textile shop owner at the Lapu-Lapu City Public Market, expressed her gratitude for the implementation of the program. “Through this initiative, more vendors will now experience the convenience of cashless transactions,” she said.

“Maya saves me time with its quick and easy cashless payment process, and I also appreciate receiving cashback vouchers. Thanks also to Smart's strong signal in our market, I can transact easily using Maya,” added Ymbong.

PLDT and Smart’s efforts to enable digital payments in public markets and other local communities through their fast and reliable network underscore the Group’s commitment to helping the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG No. 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities.