Apple Pay officially rolls out in the Philippines

Apple Pay has officially begun rolling out in the Philippines, with Mastercard enabling its cardholders to access Apple's contactless payment service for the first time in the market.

The launch allows customers of participating banks to add eligible Mastercard credit and debit cards to the Apple Wallet app and make secure payments using their iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac. The service can be used for in-store purchases at merchants that accept contactless payments, as well as on supported apps and websites.

Initially, Apple Pay is available for eligible cards issued by Metrobank, UnionBank, GoTyme and ChinaBank, with support from additional financial institutions and card products expected over time.

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To make an in-store purchase, users simply hold their compatible Apple device near a contactless payment terminal and authenticate the transaction using Face ID, Touch ID or their device passcode. Merchants never receive the customer's actual card number.

"The launch of Apple Pay enables secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences for consumers in the Philippines. As digital adoption continues to accelerate in this region, we're excited to continue connecting people to the payment choices they want and the peace of mind they need every time they pay," said Jason Crasto, country manager of Mastercard in the Philippines.

Mastercard said every Apple Pay transaction is protected through authentication and a one-time unique dynamic security code. Rather than storing a customer's card number on the device or Apple's servers, Apple Pay assigns a unique Device Account Number that is encrypted and securely stored in the device's Secure Element, an industry-certified chip designed to protect payment credentials.

Beyond contactless payments in stores, Apple Pay enables customers to complete purchases more quickly on supported apps and websites using iPhone, iPad and Mac, removing the need to repeatedly enter payment, shipping and billing details.

Customers can set up Apple Pay by opening the Wallet app on iPhone, tapping the "+" icon and following the prompts to add an eligible Mastercard credit or debit card. Once added, the card can also be used across compatible Apple devices, while customers continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their Mastercard.

The launch marks another step in the Philippines' digital payments evolution, as Mastercard expands access to secure, convenient and contactless payment options amid growing consumer adoption of cashless transactions.

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