Philippines Enters Cash-Lite Era with Apple Pay Launch

Apple Pay has officially launched in the Philippines, joining Google Pay in the country's growing contactless payments market.

The service allows eligible debit and credit cardholders from four banks - Chinabank, GoTyme, Metrobank, and UnionBank - to load their cards onto Apple devices such as iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, and Macs.

According to Jason Crasto, Mastercard's country manager for the Philippines, 'The launch of Apple Pay enables secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences for consumers in the Philippines.'

The introduction of Apple Pay comes nearly a year after Google Pay launched locally, setting up direct competition between the two tech giants in a market where smartphone penetration continues to deepen.