Business Outlook: CIS Bayad Center CEO Lawrence Ferrer on future of digital payments | ANC

Published May 20, 2026 | Source: ANC Alerts

In a candid discussion on ANC's Business Outlook, CIS Bayad Center CEO Lawrence Ferrer painted an optimistic picture for digital payments in the Philippines. Anchors Salve Duplito and Ron Cruz pressed him on how technology can finally reach the millions of Filipinos still outside the formal banking system. Ferrer stressed that convenience and trust will be the twin engines driving wider adoption in the years ahead.

He highlighted Bayad Center's expanding network of digital channels that let users settle bills, send remittances, and even access micro-loans from their phones. Ferrer noted that rural households, once dependent on long queues at physical centers, now enjoy the same speed and security as their urban counterparts. This shift, he said, is gadgets but about giving every Filipino the dignity of financial control.

Financial inclusion, according to Ferrer, will hinge on partnerships between fintech firms, government agencies, and local cooperatives. He pointed to ongoing efforts that bring affordable digital wallets to sari-sari stores and tricycle drivers, turning small businesses into gateways for cashless transactions. Such steps, he believes, will help close the gap that has long separated Manila from the provinces.

Looking forward, Ferrer urged regulators to keep rules flexible so innovation can flourish without leaving the most vulnerable behind. His message resonated with a nation eager to build a more inclusive economy—one tap at a time.

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