Mobile e-wallet PalawanPay served as the official e-wallet partner of the BIYAYA Sustainable Living Festival 2026, held from July 17 to 19 at SM Megamall.
The festival gathered sustainability advocates, social enterprises, coffee producers, artisans, and purpose-driven businesses under one roof.
PalawanPay enabled cashless transactions throughout the event, including the festival’s Coffee Village, giving visitors and merchants access to digital payments and the broader financial services of the Palawan Group.
Company executives said the partnership supports the goal of expanding financial access while backing Filipino entrepreneurs.
The collaboration reflects a shared focus on strengthening local industries, particularly coffee farmers and weavers who have gained international recognition.
Palawan Group supports micro, small, and medium enterprises through lending products, pawnshop financing, and a nationwide branch network offering deposits, withdrawals, remittances, payroll, and collections.
The company’s physical presence complements its digital platform, letting customers choose between cash and electronic transactions at their convenience.
PalawanPay charges merchants a discount rate of less than 1% for digital payments, a figure below typical industry rates.
One key challenge for MSMEs remains the cost of accepting digital payments, which the company aims to reduce through lower fees and support from over 3,800 branches nationwide.
Merchants facing issues with payment terminals or QR Ph stations can visit a nearby branch for assistance, the company noted.
PalawanPay also offers free cash-in at branches regardless of amount and a P5 InstaPay transfer fee to keep customer costs low.
With more than four decades of operations, the group leverages its established trust to encourage digital adoption among Filipinos hesitant to use e-wallets.
The strategy centers on a seamless experience across digital and physical channels, with branch and wallet services mirrored on both platforms.
PalawanPay now serves 23 million users and, through its festival participation, seeks to show how digital finance can reinforce local enterprises and broaden financial inclusion.
