Paying with just a tap of your phone is about to become more common in the Philippines. Global payments leader Visa is rolling out Visa Pay, a new service that lets consumers use their phones to make purchases via NFC-enabled point-of-sale terminals—whether shopping in-store or online, here or abroad.
The pilot run will be in partnership with local digital bank Maya, according to Visa Philippines' Ezer Escolar. The service connects any participating wallet to Visa’s global payment network, making cashless transactions faster and more accessible.
"The digital payments scene in the Philippines is thriving, and that opens the door for smarter, AI-driven innovations to empower both consumers and businesses," said Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro.
What Else Is Coming? Visa’s Big Plans for PH Payments
Visa’s move doesn’t stop at tap-to-pay. The company is also bringing in other forward-looking services designed for a more flexible and inclusive payment ecosystem:
- * Visa Accept: This will let even small-scale sellers accept payments through any NFC-enabled smartphone, with funds going straight to their eligible Visa debit card.
- * Flex Credential: A new type of card that allows users to switch between debit, credit, or rewards points.
- * Stablecoin-backed cards and programmable money: For those eyeing the future of digital currencies, Visa plans to introduce options tied to blockchain-based solutions.
“We’re working closely with local banks, merchants, and the government to make sure these innovations create real impact. It’s all about delivering meaningful progress to every corner of the market,” Navarro added.
PH Goes Digital: Cashless Transactions Keep Climbing
The timing couldn’t be better. Filipinos are embracing digital payments more than ever. In fact, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas shows that fund transfers through PESONet and InstaPay hit ?7.15 trillion from January to April 2025—up from ?5.22 trillion during the same stretch in 2024.
While Maya is the first confirmed partner, Visa is in active talks with more players in the fintech and banking space. As Navarro explained, “Visa operates on a partnership model. We’re moving as fast as our partners can, and we’re eager to bring this to market as soon as possible.”
