The BSP and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-RFO-CAR) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) in Baguio City seeking to improve farmers and other agricultural workers access to digital transactions through Paleng-QR Ph Plus program, a digital payment system that utilizes QR or quick response technology.
The program would also include financial education programs by the BSP with a focus on the effective use of digital payments in business, financial services for micro and small enterprises, and consumer protection.
Signing the MoA were BSP North Luzon Regional Director Noel Neil Q. Malimban and DA-RFO-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey. BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and DA-RFO-CAR Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Susan D. Balanza witnessed the event.
The MoA would now include the region’s supply chair players aside from Baguio City’s public market vendors, public transport drivers, and other merchants who joined the Paleng-QR Ph Plus program in August last year.
Deputy Governor Romulo-Puyat said that the widespread adoption of this technology would improve the lot of farmers who play major roles in the agricultural and public markets supply chains.
Executive Director Odsey recognized that this collaboration with the BSP will provide an opportunity for farmers to access digital services and make them more adept and responsive to modern technology.
Other attendees were BSP North Luzon Area Director Madelyn Lerma P. Viernes, Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council Chairperson Ryan Paluyan, provincial agriculturists, agricultural provincial coordinators, farmer group cooperatives and association representatives, as well as members of the local media.