Digital asset platform Coins.ph called on local government leaders to accelerate the shift toward digital services during the 2026 Philippine Councilors League National Congress and the 1st Quarterly Continuing Local Legislative Education Program, where the company highlighted how modern payment systems can improve public services.
Addressing thousands of local legislators, Coins.ph CEO Wei Zhou challenged local government units (LGUs) to modernize public collection systems in order to meet what he described as the public’s “new expectation” of instant service.
Zhou pointed to changing consumer habits in the Philippines, noting that digital payments now make up 57.4% of retail payment volume in the country, according to a 2024 report by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
He also noted that outdated, manual systems create what he described as an “invisible tax” on communities. According to Zhou, administrative friction causes both citizens and government staff to lose valuable time while navigating slow and paper-based processes. These systems also require manual reconciliation, often delaying financial reporting.
“Even a 1% inefficiency in a P500 million revenue base equals P5 million,” Zhou said. “We must ask ourselves: How many scholarships is that? How many classrooms could that build? How many families could be supported? Small percentages become real consequences.”
Zhou added that the rapid growth of interoperable digital payment systems demonstrates that Filipinos are ready for more digital government services.
He cited the expansion of QR-based payments under the country’s national QR framework, noting that monthly QR Ph transactions processed by Coins grew from P559 million to P29.95 billion within 12 months in 2025. The trend suggests that many citizens already have the tools for digital transactions and are waiting for public services to catch up with private-sector convenience.
Zhou presented Coins.ph as a partner for LGUs seeking to modernize their operations through digital collections and payments.
He said digital systems could help streamline the payment of business permits and real property taxes, reducing long lines at city halls while improving revenue collection. Digital rails can also be used to distribute public assistance and social services, ensuring funds reach beneficiaries instantly and transparently.
Digital infrastructure can also serve as continuity infrastructure, allowing payment systems to operate even when government offices are closed due to typhoons, flooding, or power outages.
Moving from 45-minute manual processes to 15-second digital transactions, he added, can significantly improve efficiency and strengthen public trust.
Coins.ph operates a BSP-regulated platform with 12 years of operating experience, serving 18 million users and processing about 140 million monthly transactions. The platform maintains 99.9% uptime and connects with over 120 banks and e-wallets, enabling large-scale, interoperable digital payments.
“Modernization will happen; the question is timing,” Zhou concluded. “Design decisions are leadership decisions. I invite our local leaders to lead this change and make public services more efficient, resilient, and inclusive for every Filipino.”
