Surigao Del Norte, 9 November 2026 – Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, in partnership with USSC Money Services, Inc. (UMSI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Provincial and Local Governments, is expanding digital payment acceptance across Siargao to make it easier for tourists to pay while helping local tourism businesses participate in and benefit from the island’s growth.
The initiative brings to life Visa and the DOT’s broader collaboration to accelerate the digital transformation of Philippine tourism by expanding payment acceptance and strengthening the digital capabilities of tourism MSMEs. Visa, UMSI, and the DOT have rolled out U Accept, an innovative payment solution that enables MSMEs to securely accept contactless card payments using an eligible smartphone. The feature is integrated into the uGrow app, UMSI’s digital enablement platform for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The collaboration supports Siargao’s inaugural hosting of the prestigious World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, one of the world’s biggest professional surfing competitions. The WSL brings 40 elite surfers to compete in the world-famous reef break of Siargao’s Cloud 9.
In the weeks preceding the tournament, UMSI and Visa have successfully onboarded 100 tourism merchants in Siargao, including homestays and accommodations, restaurants and cafes, surfing instructors, as well as souvenir shops. Tourists now have more secure and seamless ways to pay across more local businesses, while merchants have additional opportunities to serve domestic and international visitors.
“This successful public-private collaboration is part of our bigger policy thrust of capacitating our MSMEs and transforming our tourism infrastructure by building a resilient, tech-enabled tourism sector. When we empower our MSMEs and tourism frontliners to accept digital payments, we enable them to keep in step with evolving tourist preferences and give our visitors the best that Filipino hospitality can offer,” said Dita Angara-Mathay, Secretary of Tourism.
“Digital acceptance can help ensure that local businesses benefit as tourism destinations such as Siargao grow. Through the Visa-powered uGrow app, payments innovation is within easier reach of Filipino entrepreneurs, giving them secure and seamless ways to accept payments from both Filipino consumers and tourists traveling to the Philippines. Together with government and industry partners, we are helping connect local businesses to the opportunities created by an increasingly digital tourism economy,” added Jeffrey Navarro, Country Manager for Visa Philippines.
“At UMSI, we believe technology should make it easier for businesses of every size to participate in the digital economy. Through our collaboration with Visa and the Department of Tourism, we are bringing practical, easy-to-adopt payment solutions to businesses in Siargao, helping merchants serve more customers while supporting the island’s continued growth as one of the Philippines’ premier tourism destinations,” highlighted Jose Xavier Gonzales, UMSI President and Chief Executive Officer.
The uGrow app is powered by Visa Accept, a payment solution that enables merchants to turn their smartphones into payment acceptance devices and removes the need for traditional point-of-sale card terminals. With uGrow, MSME users can also send digital receipts to buyers via email and check transaction history, complementing the app’s sales monitoring and inventory management features. It also allows for near-real time settlement to merchants’ U Visa Prepaid Card.
Visa and UMSI have participated in capacity-building roadshows across DOT’s regional offices, conducting workshops on how uGrow works. Since its launch, UMSI has onboarded more than 1,500 merchants nationwide on the platform – 40% of whom are in Luzon, 31% in Mindanao, and 29% in Visayas.
Visa’s research shows that accepting cards creates positive impact for both MSME owners and consumers. Among Filipino SME owners, 83% reported an increase in turnover after accepting card payments, and 41% said customers spent more when they used cards. For those who do not accept cards, 67% said they would adopt a solution if given support.
