Investment will increase access to credit for retail and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with specific focus on women entrepreneurs.

Ongoing shifts toward e-commerce, digital payments (including contactless), and instant payments have all been significantly boosted during the pandemic with real-time payments surging by 104 percent.

Loan restructuring applications peaked in April-May with the second wave of COVID-19, reaching about 20,000 applications per week, and are now down to about 2,000 per week.

The value of transactions using the QR (quick response) technology via the national QR code standard reached almost P1 billion as of end-May, as more Filipinos embrace digital channels amid the pandemic.

Data from the State Bank of Vietnam shows that the number of non-cash transactions has been on a rise in Vietnam during the pandemic.

The loans approved under the COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises program is said to have benefited 29,816 enterprises in the Philippines.

Last week, the Microfinance Association of Cambodia and the National Bank of Cambodia discouraged the use of physical currency to help curb the spread of the pandemic.

The scheme is designed to support businesses including micro, small and medium enterprises, and large firms to enhance their access to formal loans.