Apple Pay and Google Pay are now clear to roll out in the Philippines without securing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) registration.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan clarified that the two platforms are not considered operators of payment systems (OPS) since they will not hold funds for Filipino users. Instead, they’ll function purely as technology service providers, linking users’ debit, credit, or e-wallet accounts to enable tap-to-pay transactions via NFC-enabled devices.
“They’ll just read the credentials; the money doesn’t pass through them,” Tangonan explained, emphasizing that accountability still falls on the payment service providers (PSPs) such as banks and e-money issuers.
This move comes as BSP data shows digital payments in 2024 hit 57.4% of monthly retail transactions—well above the government’s target under the Philippine Development Plan.
With this clearance, Filipino users may soon enjoy Apple Pay and Google Pay support.
Let us know when it does launch!