The rapid growth of digital payments in the Philippines is setting the stage for the next evolution in online commerce: agentic commerce, where artificial intelligence (AI) can help execute purchases and initiate payments within customer-defined instructions.
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), InstaPay processed a record 4.7 billion transactions in 2025, while QR Ph person-to-merchant payments reached 2.5 billion. As digital transactions become more common, the next challenge is ensuring that AI-driven purchases remain secure, authorised, and aligned with customer intent.
Eng Sheng Guan, CEO of Fiuu, said payment security fundamentals remain essential as AI takes on a greater role in the purchasing process. Customers must understand what an AI agent is permitted to do and retain the ability to modify or withdraw permissions for future purchases.
For example, an AI agent could purchase an item within a specified budget, repeat a marketplace order, or complete a travel booking under agreed conditions. However, if prices change, products become unavailable, or booking terms shift significantly, the system must determine whether it can proceed or needs renewed customer approval.
Trust remains another concern in the Philippines. A BSP survey found that 55% of respondents who did not use digital payments cited a lack of confidence in security as one reason for non-use.
To support automated transactions, payment providers, merchants, and platforms may need reliable transaction records, secure payment credentials, and clear authorisation mechanisms. Customers must also have straightforward ways to understand transactions and seek assistance when problems arise.
Repeat marketplace purchases, travel bookings, and recurring digital services could be among the first applications of agentic commerce because customers can establish clear purchasing conditions in advance.
Cross-border transactions present another challenge. As consumers and businesses transact across Southeast Asia, AI-driven purchases must navigate different payment methods, currencies, digital wallets, QR systems, and approval requirements. Interoperability will be crucial to making these transactions work consistently across markets.
For the Philippines, the next phase of digital payments will depend not only on greater automation but also on maintaining customer control, payment security, and trust as AI becomes more involved in everyday purchases.
