Google Wallet and Google Pay are now officially available in the Philippines. Google launched it with partner banks, fintechs, Visa, and Mastercard to make contactless payments easier with Android phones.
With the new service, you can now add cards from participating banks to Google Wallet and pay with your Android phone or Wear OS device at places that accept contactless payments. Cards can also be used online or in-app if there is a Google Pay button.
According to Google, Google Wallet is not an e-wallet like GCash or Maya. It is a digital wallet for payment cards, loyalty cards, vouchers, and more. When you tap to pay, Google Pay processes the payment itself.
You can also add boarding passes from airlines like Philippine Airlines and AirAsia. There are also alerts for changes in flight schedules. You can also store concert tickets, cinema tickets, digital car keys, loyalty cards, and vouchers.
Many banks and services are supported such as ChinaBank, EastWest, RCBC, GoTyme, Maya, UnionBank, GCash, Zed, as well as transit payments on MRT-3 and modern jeepneys in Cebu and Mandaue. Online payments are supported on Shopee and other merchants.
This launch is proof of Google's commitment to expand digital payments and help develop the Philippines' digital economy.
