The use of cashless transactions in the Philippines has increased in response to the growth of e-commerce. Despite substantial initiatives to encourage digital payments, adoption rates are still low in a number of Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). One of the major players in the Philippine economy is the MSME sector. It is essential to the Philippines' economic recovery from COVID-19 since they make up 99% of the more than 1.4 million officially registered businesses and are responsible for 63% of the jobs and 36% of the nation’s GDP. To contribute to the understanding of cashless payment systems in the country, this study examined the variables influencing MSMEs' intention to implement cashless payment systems in Lala, Lanao del Norte, with the goal of improving knowledge about cashless payments across the nation. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the complex model of the modified UTAUT2, Causal Mediation Analysis (CMA) to understand if there is a relationship between the direct factors to the experience and Moderation Analysis to understand if age and gender are contributing to MSMEs’ adoption intention. The researchers requested a list of the MSMEs from the municipality of Lala and the Department of Trade and Industry; however, a convenience sampling method was used in selecting respondents with a total population of 548 and a sample size of 227. The results from the study indicated that effort expectancy and hedonic motivation were the only significant determinants of the intention to use cashless payment systems on MSMEs in Lala. Age, gender, and experience showed a significant relationship between independent variables and intention to use cashless payment methods. This study might be reinforced and validated by gathering data over a longer timeframe, acquiring more respondents, expanding its scope, and accounting for other factors that might influence how MSMEs see cashless payment systems.

• cashless payments

• MSME

• intention

• relationships