Cash or digital money: goods sold in public markets and fare in Tabuk can now be paid digitally

Tabuk City, Kalinga - iKalingas can now pay for goods sold in public markets and transportation fees digitally through QR codes with the recent launching of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program in Tabuk City.  

With the joint efforts of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said program was introduced to the people at the Dagupan Public Market on June 11, 2025.  

According to the BSP, the program aims to simplify transactions, reduce the need for physical cash, and potentially mitigate health risks associated with handling money by utilizing QR Ph. 

The program was launched in Tabuk City on said day through the partnership of the BSP, DILG, the local government, and various financial groups in the city.  

Under the program, vendors and transport drivers in the city who register will enjoy benefits like a 5% discount on city fees, licenses, and permits for two years, or a 5% discount on market stall fees for one year.  

To help the public know more about the program, according to the Philippine Information Agency–Kalinga, the BSP, DILG, the city government, and partner banks will hold financial literacy training in the coming days.  

The training will feature teaching basic money skills and consumer protection, and helping people open QR-Ph-enabled accounts for digital transactions.