Apple Pay Launches in Philippines, Accelerating Cashless Transition

MANILA, Philippines — Apple Pay, one of the world’s most widely used mobile payment services, officially launched in the Philippines on Tuesday, giving consumers another way to make contactless purchases as the country’s shift toward cashless payments gathers pace. In separate announcements, Visa and Mastercard said eligible debit and credit cardholders can now add their cards to Apple Pay on iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads and Macs, allowing them to make purchases by double-clicking the side button and holding the device near a contactless payment terminal. For now, Apple said the service supports cards issued by Chinabank, GOtyme, Metrobank and UnionBank, with additional banks expected to join in the coming months. “The launch of Apple Pay enables secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences for consumers in the Philippines,” said Jason Crasto, country manager of Mastercard in the Philippines. “As digital adoption continues to accelerate in this region, we’re excited to continue connecting people to the payment choices they want and the peace of mind they need every time they pay.” The arrival of Apple Pay comes nearly a year after Google rolled out Google Pay in the Philippines, intensifying competition in a market where digital payments have expanded rapidly as smartphone penetration deepens. Both Apple Pay and Google Pay let users store debit and credit cards on their phones instead of carrying physical wallets. The services are built into their respective mobile operating systems, turning smartphones and smartwatches into payment devices with a tap, fingerprint or facial scan. Apple said card numbers are never stored on the device or its servers. Instead, each card is assigned a unique encrypted device account number stored in the phone’s secure element, a dedicated chip designed to protect sensitive payment information. Every purchase is authorized using a one-time dynamic security code, and Apple said it does not retain transaction data that can be linked to a user’s identity. The company also does not charge consumers fees for using Apple Pay in stores, online or in apps. As it is, Apple and Google’s entry into the local payments ecosystem makes strategic sense. As of 2024, digital channels accounted for 57.4 percent of retail payments, central bank data showed. With Apple Pay and Google Pay now available alongside the central bank’s push to modernize the payments system, officials say their goal of digitizing 60 percent to 70 percent of retail payments by 2028 is increasingly within reach. “With Apple Pay, Filipinos and tourists alike now have seamless and secure ways to pay across shops, restaurants, travel destinations, and public transport, supporting the nation’s vision to become a cash-lite economy,” said Jeffrey Navarro, country manager for Visa Philippines. INQ