DAUIN, Negros Oriental, Aug. 22 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) is hoping to launch the Paleng-QR System at the newly-opened Dauin Mega Market here soon following the installation of free Wi-Fi service by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“Because of the free wi-fi here, we will be the first public market in Negros Oriental that will implement the Paleng-QR. Ang atong mga vendor sa silong pwede na ka mobayad using QR code (You can now pay our vendors in the first floor using QR codes),” said Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI).

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) developed the Paleng-QR system to promote the acceptance of digital payments among market vendors and market-goers.

Du said the purpose of the QR code is to go cashless, and the chamber hopes that the municipality will be the first the province to implement this and move towards e-commerce.

“That will be our next project, Mayor Galicano Truita. Again, it’s another first in Negros Oriental,” Du said.

The NOCCI president witnessed the opening of the Dauin Mega Market and the ceremonial switch-on of the free wi-fi service of the DICT here on August 17.

DICT-7 Cluster Director Frederick Amores, who was at the event, said the department has installed 30 to 50 mbps internet in the market.

“That is really pure bandwidth. That is not like ‘up to, up to’ connection we normally have. That is a dedicated connection. For use of e-mail and checking of websites that’s normally enough,” Amores said.

“Hopefully, we can provide more bandwidth especially when our fiber optic clients, our connection from the national broadband project is completed we will have more bandwidth that we will developed,” he added.

Amores also welcomed Du’s suggestion to launch the Paleng-QR system here, stressing the proposal is timely with the advent of all innovations that lead to cashless payments.

He added that tourists are in favor of digital payment system and adopting this system in the municipality would be a an advantage for the residents.

In Central Visayas, the Paleng-QR System was launched in Cebu City, Mandaue City in Cebu and Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

The free wi-fi service of the DICT was part of the new amenities of the Dauin Mega Market. Aside from this, the newly-opened marketplace also has its own water treatment facility, 24-Hour CCTV room for security, elevator, power generator, and a hotel for tourists. (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)