Cotabato City GCash Payments Surge 30% After PalengkeQR Launch
GCash's partnership with Cotabato City introduced Scan to Pay and Bills Pay features, allowing residents to pay city fees by scanning QR codes and settle bills remotely without queuing.
Key Takeaway
Small vendor adoption of digital payments is driving measurable transaction growth in underserved Philippine regions.
Mayor Mohammad Ali "Bruce" Matabalao announced during his State of the City Address that over 1,200 market vendors and tricycle operators are enrolled in PalengkeQR Ph Plus, with daily transactions up 30% in the first year.
GCash Vice President and Head for Public Sector Cleo Santos said the integration demonstrates the impact of digital transformation on local governance. By replacing cash with a secure, efficient, and transparent payment system, the city is streamlining administrative services and improving the experience for constituents.
The rollout in Cotabato City is part of a broader digitization push across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data shows 82% of traders in Cotabato City now use e-payments following the PalengkeQR Ph Plus launch. GCash Account Manager Bappy Vales-Canlas, Regional Sales Head Bea Ranada, and Cluster Business Head Miguel Polido participated in the rollout event with the Cotabato City Local Government Unit.
🇵🇭 What This Means for Filipinos: GCash's model in Cotabato City shows cashless payments can work in markets and tricycle terminals — environments where cash still dominates across most Philippine cities. The 82% trader adoption rate suggests digital wallets are becoming practical tools for sari-sari store owners and transport operators, not just urban professionals. If replicated nationwide, this could connect informal economy workers to the formal financial system.
