To promote a fully cashless payment system in its local government transactions, the city government of Parañaque has adopted the national quick response (QR) code standard, also known as QR Ph, to accelerate its digitalization.
Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez said QR Ph is the country’s QR code standard, which gives customers of banks and nonbank electronic money issuers, including LGUs, a quick and secure way to pay, transfer, and receive funds.
Olivarez said the use of QR Ph for its online payment services on business taxes and fees, real property taxes, and other miscellaneous fees will fully optimize the benefits brought by the economy in the LGU level, and make the payment process easier for taxpayers.
“The city government of Parañaque fully supports government’s innovative towards promoting an inclusive economic growth in the country. QR Ph offers us added security, convenience, and peace of mind,” said the mayor.
Through the integration of QR Ph in the city’s online payment services, “we are assured that any payments done with the local government will be secured and seamless for better customer experience,” he added.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas also recognized that QR technology has emerged as one of the most convenient and cost-efficient means of moving funds from one account to another.
QR Ph is the Philippines’ QR code standard based on the Europay-Mastercard-VISA (EMV) standard, a global standard for secure payments.
Lawyer Melanie Malaya, chief of the city’s Business Permit and Licensing Office, also encouraged residents and local and foreign investors the use of QR technology as a convenient and safe payment solution, as it aims to turn half of the volume and value of payments into digital form by next year.
Malaya said the city government will continue to work with the national government and private sector in its commitment to align policies and efforts to further promote literacy and access to finance in the local government.
In January 2021, the city government, in partnership with Maya Philippines as one participating merchant bank in the QR Ph, pioneered the use of a digitally-enabled platform where customers can avail of the local government services whether personal or without physically going to city hall.