AS THE implementation of the Paleng-QR PH Plus draws nearer in Mandaue City, vendors and riders, who are expected to adopt the program, have not fully embraced the digital payment system yet.
Out of the 700 vendors and 250 riders in the city, only around 137 vendors and eight riders have adopted the mandatory GCash app for the program.
The City Government plans to launch the Paleng-QR PH Plus in the Mandaue City Public Market (MCPM) on its 54th Charter Day celebration on Aug. 30, 2023.
MCPM head Cesar Mercadal said on Monday, July 3, 2023, that they are currently at around 20 percent completion in preparing for the full implementation of the digitalization of the transactions of tricycle drivers and vendors in the market.
Mercadal said they are waiting for other stakeholders eager to participate in the innovation to be ready.
There are still market vendors who are not yet convinced about the planned digitalization.
He said it is a challenge for the City to change the mindset of people and to teach drivers and vendors how to use gadgets like smartphones.
“The advantage of the program is they (vendors and riders) can avoid falling victim to fake money...because the transactions are cashless,” Mercadal said in Cebuano.
Some vendors have expressed fear of venturing into digitalization, especially the elderly who are having difficulty in using smartphones.
Mercadal said to address this, they aim for their Graphical User Interface (GUI) to be more user-friendly.
Businesses should be able to rely on the app so that when threats of catastrophes occur, businesses can easily shift to online selling and diversify their marketing strategies through the Paleng-QR.
Digital payment
The Paleng-QR PH Plus was launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in November last year.
It promotes cashless payments as an alternative to cash in purchasing goods at public markets and in paying fares for public utility vehicles, with transactions typically being done through the QR codes of digital wallet apps such as GCash.
In Cebu, Lapu-Lapu City was the first to fully implement the program last Feb. 17.
In March 2023, City Ordinance 165-2022 was passed. It enjoined all business establishments and local transportation in Mandaue City to adopt QR PH digital payments.
The ordinance was in line with the Central Bank’s aim to minimize the printing of money. (HIC)