The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) have adopted the Direct Debit facility, an interoperable and multilateral auto-debit system that allows property buyers and tenants to settle recurring payments from accounts maintained with participating banks.
The platform enables customers to authorise automatic debits for obligations such as property amortisations, rent, association dues and other scheduled payments, regardless of where their accounts are held among participating institutions. A full rollout is targeted within the first quarter of the year following a pilot phase.
Direct Debit operates through a regulated clearing house and is designed to address the limitations of traditional auto-debit arrangements, which typically require both the payor and biller to maintain accounts within the same bank. By allowing cross-bank transactions, the system broadens access and streamlines recurring payments.
(L-R Standing): Joseph Paycana, BPI Collections Product Head; Francine Perez, BPI Product Development Manager; Barbara Untalan – BPI Head of Corporate Banking; Ashley Jay Cruz BPI Cash Management Sales Officer; Jose Emilio B. Jamir – ALI Deputy Treasurer; Edgardo R. Marcelo, Jr.– BPI Head of Transaction Banking; Jennelyn J. Almazan – ALI Treasury Manager; Brenda Ilano – BPI Relationship Manager; Winnie Espiritu – BPI Team Head of Top Corporates Team 1 and Carl Francis Ramirez – BPI Market Head for Top Corporates
The facility forms part of the digital payments framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), alongside interoperable channels such as InstaPay and PESONet. The BSP has been advancing initiatives aimed at strengthening financial infrastructure and promoting secure, efficient and inclusive payment systems.
For Ayala Land, the system enables automated clearing and same-day settlement to its BPI account, with standardised reporting across member banks of the Philippine Clearing House Corporation. The integration is expected to reduce manual processing and improve reconciliation of payments.
(L-R Standing): Joseph Paycana, BPI Collections Product Head; Francine Perez, BPI Product Development Manager; Barbara Untalan – BPI Head of Corporate Banking; Ashley Jay Cruz BPI Cash Management Sales Officer; Jose Emilio B. Jamir – ALI Deputy Treasurer; Edgardo R. Marcelo, Jr.– BPI Head of Transaction Banking; Jennelyn J. Almazan – ALI Treasury Manager; Brenda Ilano – BPI Relationship Manager; Winnie Espiritu – BPI Team Head of Top Corporates Team 1 and Carl Francis Ramirez – BPI Market Head for Top Corporates
Louie Cruz, head of institutional banking at BPI, said: “This is a first-of-its-kind solution in the Philippines that allows interoperable direct debit for recurring payments. By enabling automated debits from any participating bank, we are setting a new standard for convenience, reliability, and innovation in payments. Our collaboration with Ayala Land demonstrates how partnerships can scale digital solutions that directly benefit customers.”
“As BPI celebrates 175 years, we continue to invest in innovations that simplify everyday financial transactions,” he added.
Jigger Jamir, deputy treasurer of Ayala Land, said: “This initiative reinforces Ayala Land’s commitment to delivering a more seamless and efficient buying experience. Through a one-time authorization, customers can now make recurring payments electronically using their existing bank accounts, removing the need for multiple checks and simplifying how they manage their financial commitments. At the same time, automated clearing, same-day settlement, and standardized reporting enable faster posting of payments and more efficient processing.”
The Direct Debit facility is designed for recurring payments including property amortisations, lease payments, loan instalments, insurance premiums and membership dues. BPI and Ayala Land said the initiative is intended to enhance collection efficiency while providing greater convenience for customers managing property-related obligations.
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