After The Digital Payments Boom, The Philippines’ Next Test Is Trust In Automated Commerce

Eng Sheng Guan, CEO of Fiuu

The Philippines’ digital payments market has expanded rapidly. InstaPay processed a record 4.7 billion transactions in 2025, while QR Ph person-to-merchant payments reached 2.5 billion, reflecting how deeply digital transactions are becoming part of everyday commerce.  

As that foundation matures, the next shift may be less about getting consumers online and more about what happens when artificial intelligence (AI) begins to play a larger role in the purchase journey itself. 

Often described as agentic commerce, the model could allow AI tools to move beyond helping consumers search and compare, as well as support such actions as placing an order or initiating payment within instructions set by the customer. 

Fiuu Predicts Top 2026 Trends in the Philippines’ Digital Payments Landscape

Fiuu, the leading fintech platform in Southeast Asia, has identified top trends and predictions for digital payments in the Philippines.

2025 was a pivotal year for the industry in the Philippines. A series of long-anticipated developments came together within a short period of time: the entry of Apple Pay and Google Pay, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ push for 24/7 real-time payment infrastructure, tighter anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, and regulatory guidance across the financial system.

Collectively, these shifts changed the role of digital payments in everyday commerce. What was once driven by convenience and incentives has become a necessity for both consumers and merchants. Seamless availability, strong security standards, and regulatory compliance are no longer differentiators. They are now baseline expectations.

Visa readies banks for expansion of digital payments in other train lines with urban mobility workshop

With the launch of the open-loop, contactless payment system in the MRT last July, Visa is readying local banks to facilitate transit payments for expansion to LRT 1 and 2

Visa, in partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), conducted a forum to boost readiness of Philippine banks for transit payments as the country gears up for expansion of the automated fare collection system in LRT 1 and 2.

Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, is gearing up for the expansion of automated, contactless fare systems to other train lines in partnership with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC). Through a workshop on smart mobility, Visa and RCBC shared solutions and best practices for issuers on managing digital payments for various modes of transit, particularly urban rail.