Filipino merchants using QR Ph can now accept payments from international consumers through their home e-wallets and banking apps following an integration between Philippine Payments Management Inc. (PPMI) and Alipay+.
The arrangement allows users of Alipay+ partner services to scan existing QR Ph codes and pay participating merchants in the Philippines without requiring businesses to install a separate payment system.
The integration could particularly benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises serving foreign travelers, as payments from Alipay+ users will be processed through the merchants’ existing QR Ph setup.
“QR Ph has played an important role in advancing a more connected and interoperable digital payments ecosystem in the Philippines, making digital payments more accessible and convenient for businesses and consumers,” said Carmelita “Melit” Araneta, general manager of PPMI.
“Through our partnership with Alipay+, we are extending that connectivity beyond our borders, enabling Filipino merchants — particularly SMEs — to serve international customers more seamlessly. This is an important step in bringing the benefits of digitalization into everyday commerce, while creating new opportunities for Filipino businesses to participate and grow in the global digital economy.”
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2025 Report on E-Payments Measurement, digital payments accounted for 64.69% of retail transaction volume in the country, while QR Ph transactions increased more than thirteenfold during the year.
Alipay+, operated by Ant International, serves as a gateway connecting payment applications with merchants in different markets. The company said its network covers more than 2 billion consumer accounts and over 50 mobile payment providers, including e-wallets and banking apps.
The platform is also connected to more than 10 national payment systems across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and supports payments in more than 220 markets, according to the company.
“Our role is to make it as easy as possible for a customer to pay with the mobile app they already use, while helping the merchant participate in a much bigger marketplace,” said Danny Chung, general manager of the Alipay+ Global Growth Center at Ant International.
“The Philippines has built a strong digital payments ecosystem through QR Ph, and by connecting that ecosystem with Alipay+, we are helping bring the benefits of digitalization to the next level, giving Filipino businesses a more seamless way to serve consumers from around the world.”
PPMI, which was established under the National Payment Systems Act, was designated by the BSP as the country’s payment system management body in 2018. It oversees industry-led initiatives under the National Retail Payment System, including the InstaPay and PESONet automated clearing houses.
