PARANG, Maguindanao del Norte — In a milestone for financial inclusion and digital transformation, the Municipality of Parang became the first in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to adopt cashless transactions in its public market and local transport sector through the Paleng-QR Ph Plus Program, launched on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
The initiative—jointly spearheaded by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)—aims to promote digital payments nationwide using the QR Ph standard, enabling faster, safer, and more convenient transactions for market vendors, business owners, and tricycle drivers.
BARMM Acting Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain, BSP Cotabato Branch Acting Area Director Dr. Gregorio Baccay III, and Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay led the launch ceremony and visited the town’s public market, where the program will first be implemented.
Around 300 market vendors, 150 business establishment owners, and 1,000 tricycle drivers are expected to benefit from the program as they transition to digital payment systems.
Cusain, representing BARMM Chief Minister and MILG Minister Abdulraof Macacua, lauded the municipality’s pioneering move toward modernization.
“This is proof that progress does not skip the Bangsamoro,” Cusain said. “We are not being left behind; we are rising, striving to keep pace, and moving forward with pride.”
He emphasized that embracing digital transactions aligns with the Bangsamoro Government’s Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda, particularly in expanding digital infrastructure and strengthening e-governance.
Mayor Ibay expressed gratitude to the BSP and DILG for their support, saying the initiative will significantly improve local services.
“This will truly provide a service for faster transactions in our area,” Ibay said.
For his part, BSP’s Dr. Baccay underscored the essential role of local governments in sustaining the program.
“We recognize the crucial role that LGUs play in ensuring the success of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus Program,” he noted.
Local residents and vendors welcomed the move toward digital payments. Longtime market vendor Fatima Ali, 44, said she supports the change despite possible challenges.
“For me, online payment is fine,” Ali said in Filipino. “The only problem might be when there’s no smartphone or internet connection.”
The Paleng-QR Ph Plus Program is envisioned to empower small entrepreneurs, improve efficiency in local transactions, and bring the Bangsamoro region closer to the country’s vision of a digitally connected economy.
With Parang now leading the way, BARMM officials hope other municipalities will soon follow—ensuring that technological progress truly reaches every corner of the region.