The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Apple Pay may enter the Philippine market any time, as the service does not require central bank registration to operate.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan said Apple’s payment platform is considered a technology service provider rather than an operator of a payment system (OPS), and is therefore not subject to regulatory clearance from the central bank.
Tangonan said Apple Pay is not classified as an operator of a payment system (OPS), allowing it to launch in the Philippines without prior BSP approval.
Under BSP rules, OPS entities are those that maintain funds, facilitate clearing or settlement, or provide payment infrastructure.
Technology providers such as Apple Pay, which only enable card-based payments and do not handle money transfers directly, are exempt from the registration requirement.
While the BSP has given the green light, Apple has yet to announce when the contactless payment service will be made available in the country. Industry sources earlier indicated a possible rollout in the second half of the year, once banks and card issuers complete system integration.
Apple Pay’s eventual debut follows the launch of Google Wallet in late 2025, expanding digital payment options for local consumers as the BSP pushes for a cash-lite economy under its Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap.
