diff --git a/src/app/subscription/__tests__/subscription-screen.helpers.test.ts b/src/app/subscription/__tests__/subscription-screen.helpers.test.ts
index f5d64127..cc7c4aa4 100644
--- a/src/app/subscription/__tests__/subscription-screen.helpers.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/subscription/__tests__/subscription-screen.helpers.test.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { PaymentPlan } from "@/data/dto/payment";
 
 import {
+  canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel,
   findSelectedSubscriptionPlan,
   getDefaultPayChannelForCountryCode,
   getDefaultSubscriptionPlanId,
   getFirstRechargeOfferView,
+  resolveSubscriptionPayChannel,
   toCoinsOfferPlanViews,
   toVipOfferPlanViews,
 } from "../subscription-screen.helpers";
@@ -38,6 +40,34 @@ describe("subscription screen helpers", () => {
     expect(getDefaultPayChannelForCountryCode(null)).toBe("stripe");
   });
 
+  it("only allows payment method switching for Philippines users", () => {
+    expect(canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel("PH")).toBe(true);
+    expect(canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel("ph")).toBe(true);
+    expect(canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel("HK")).toBe(false);
+    expect(canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel(null)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("resolves subscription pay channel by country", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveSubscriptionPayChannel({
+        countryCode: "PH",
+        requestedPayChannel: null,
+      }),
+    ).toBe("ezpay");
+    expect(
+      resolveSubscriptionPayChannel({
+        countryCode: "PH",
+        requestedPayChannel: "stripe",
+      }),
+    ).toBe("stripe");
+    expect(
+      resolveSubscriptionPayChannel({
+        countryCode: "HK",
+        requestedPayChannel: "ezpay",
+      }),
+    ).toBe("stripe");
+  });
+
   it("maps at most three VIP plans and all coin plans", () => {
     const plans = [
       makePlan({ planId: "vip_monthly", planName: "Monthly" }),
diff --git a/src/app/subscription/components/subscription-payment-method.tsx b/src/app/subscription/components/subscription-payment-method.tsx
index 2a2d1b54..a714a9e1 100644
--- a/src/app/subscription/components/subscription-payment-method.tsx
+++ b/src/app/subscription/components/subscription-payment-method.tsx
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ const PAYMENT_METHODS: Array<{
 export interface SubscriptionPaymentMethodProps {
   value: PayChannel;
   disabled?: boolean;
+  caption?: string;
   onChange: (channel: PayChannel) => void;
 }
 
 export function SubscriptionPaymentMethod({
   value,
   disabled = false,
+  caption = "Stripe by default",
   onChange,
 }: SubscriptionPaymentMethodProps) {
   return (
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ export function SubscriptionPaymentMethod({
         <h2 id="payment-method-title" className={styles.title}>
           Payment Method
         </h2>
-        <span className={styles.caption}>Stripe by default</span>
+        <span className={styles.caption}>{caption}</span>
       </div>
       <div className={styles.options}>
         {PAYMENT_METHODS.map((method) => {
diff --git a/src/app/subscription/subscription-page-client.tsx b/src/app/subscription/subscription-page-client.tsx
index 1ab8b71f..d6a4bf85 100644
--- a/src/app/subscription/subscription-page-client.tsx
+++ b/src/app/subscription/subscription-page-client.tsx
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ function toReturnTo(value: string | null): "chat" | null {
   return value === "chat" ? "chat" : null;
 }
 
-function toPayChannel(value: string | null): PayChannel {
-  return value === "ezpay" ? "ezpay" : "stripe";
+function toPayChannel(value: string | null): PayChannel | null {
+  if (value === "ezpay" || value === "stripe") return value;
+  return null;
 }
 
 export function SubscriptionPageClient() {
diff --git a/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.helpers.ts b/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.helpers.ts
index 090f6130..289d268f 100644
--- a/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.helpers.ts
+++ b/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.helpers.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import type { PaymentPlan } from "@/data/dto/payment";
+import type { PayChannel, PaymentPlan } from "@/data/dto/payment";
+import { getDefaultPayChannelForCountryCode } from "@/lib/payment/default_pay_channel";
 export { getDefaultPayChannelForCountryCode } from "@/lib/payment/default_pay_channel";
 
 import type { CoinsOfferPlanView } from "./components/subscription-coins-offer-section";
@@ -12,6 +13,23 @@ export interface FirstRechargeOfferView {
   subtitle: string;
 }
 
+export function canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel(
+  countryCode: string | null | undefined,
+): boolean {
+  return countryCode?.trim().toUpperCase() === "PH";
+}
+
+export function resolveSubscriptionPayChannel(input: {
+  countryCode: string | null | undefined;
+  requestedPayChannel: PayChannel | null | undefined;
+}): PayChannel {
+  if (!canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel(input.countryCode)) return "stripe";
+  return (
+    input.requestedPayChannel ??
+    getDefaultPayChannelForCountryCode(input.countryCode)
+  );
+}
+
 export function isVipPlan(plan: PaymentPlan): boolean {
   return plan.vipDays !== null;
 }
diff --git a/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.tsx b/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.tsx
index f39b3a66..0cc5f904 100644
--- a/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.tsx
+++ b/src/app/subscription/subscription-screen.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 "use client";
-import { useEffect, useMemo } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef } from "react";
 
 import { BackButton } from "@/app/_components";
 import { Checkbox, MobileShell } from "@/app/_components/core";
 import { AppConstants } from "@/core/app_constants";
 import type { PayChannel } from "@/data/dto/payment";
+import { useUserState } from "@/stores/user/user-context";
 
 import {
   SubscriptionCheckoutButton,
@@ -16,8 +17,10 @@ import {
 import styles from "./components/subscription-screen.module.css";
 import {
   findSelectedSubscriptionPlan,
+  canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel,
   getFirstRechargeOfferView,
   getDefaultSubscriptionPlanId,
+  resolveSubscriptionPayChannel,
   toCoinsOfferPlanViews,
   toVipOfferPlanViews,
   type SubscriptionType,
@@ -30,15 +33,24 @@ export interface SubscriptionScreenProps {
   subscriptionType?: SubscriptionType;
   shouldResumePendingOrder?: boolean;
   returnTo?: "chat" | null;
-  initialPayChannel?: PayChannel;
+  initialPayChannel?: PayChannel | null;
 }
 
 export function SubscriptionScreen({
   subscriptionType = "vip",
   shouldResumePendingOrder = false,
   returnTo = null,
-  initialPayChannel = "stripe",
+  initialPayChannel = null,
 }: SubscriptionScreenProps) {
+  const userState = useUserState();
+  const countryCode = userState.currentUser?.countryCode;
+  const canChoosePaymentMethod =
+    canChooseSubscriptionPayChannel(countryCode);
+  const resolvedInitialPayChannel = resolveSubscriptionPayChannel({
+    countryCode,
+    requestedPayChannel: initialPayChannel,
+  });
+  const phDefaultPayChannelAppliedRef = useRef(false);
   const {
     payment,
     paymentDispatch,
@@ -49,7 +61,7 @@ export function SubscriptionScreen({
     subscriptionType,
     shouldResumePendingOrder,
     returnTo,
-    initialPayChannel,
+    initialPayChannel: resolvedInitialPayChannel,
   });
   const canSubscribeVip = subscriptionType === "vip";
 
@@ -89,6 +101,36 @@ export function SubscriptionScreen({
   const canActivate =
     selectedPlan !== null && payment.agreed && !isPaymentBusy;
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isPaymentBusy) return;
+
+    if (!canChoosePaymentMethod) {
+      if (payment.payChannel === "stripe") return;
+      paymentDispatch({
+        type: "PaymentPayChannelChanged",
+        payChannel: "stripe",
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (initialPayChannel !== null) return;
+    if (phDefaultPayChannelAppliedRef.current) return;
+    phDefaultPayChannelAppliedRef.current = true;
+
+    if (payment.payChannel === resolvedInitialPayChannel) return;
+    paymentDispatch({
+      type: "PaymentPayChannelChanged",
+      payChannel: resolvedInitialPayChannel,
+    });
+  }, [
+    canChoosePaymentMethod,
+    initialPayChannel,
+    isPaymentBusy,
+    payment.payChannel,
+    paymentDispatch,
+    resolvedInitialPayChannel,
+  ]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     const defaultPlanId = getDefaultSubscriptionPlanId({
       canSubscribeVip,
@@ -171,18 +213,21 @@ export function SubscriptionScreen({
           />
         </div>
 
-        <section className={styles.paymentMethodSlot}>
-          <SubscriptionPaymentMethod
-            value={payment.payChannel}
-            disabled={isPaymentBusy}
-            onChange={(payChannel) => {
-              paymentDispatch({
-                type: "PaymentPayChannelChanged",
-                payChannel,
-              });
-            }}
-          />
-        </section>
+        {canChoosePaymentMethod ? (
+          <section className={styles.paymentMethodSlot}>
+            <SubscriptionPaymentMethod
+              value={payment.payChannel}
+              disabled={isPaymentBusy}
+              caption="Ezpay by default in the Philippines"
+              onChange={(payChannel) => {
+                paymentDispatch({
+                  type: "PaymentPayChannelChanged",
+                  payChannel,
+                });
+              }}
+            />
+          </section>
+        ) : null}
 
         <div className={styles.ctaSlot}>
           <SubscriptionCheckoutButton