The Philippines’ Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has tapped Maya to support the digital disbursement of fuel subsidies to eligible public utility vehicle drivers and operators.
Under the government’s Fuel Subsidy Program, qualified beneficiaries may receive assistance through the Maya app. The platform will serve as an additional payout channel alongside existing government disbursement arrangements, according to Maya, which said it has completed an initial batch of payments.
The wider use of digital payouts follows concerns raised during a separate government cash-relief distribution for transport workers in April. A motorcycle taxi rider died after lining up at a payout site in Quezon City for assistance under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s cash-relief programme. The DSWD later said it was considering greater use of digital payment systems, including e-wallets, to reduce long queues and lessen the need for beneficiaries to wait outdoors.
The DSWD has clarified that its P5,000 cash-relief assistance for drivers was separate from the LTFRB fuel subsidy programme, although both were introduced as part of the government response to the impact of higher fuel prices on transport workers.
The LTFRB-Maya arrangement covers eligible beneficiaries from several transport sectors, including public utility jeepneys, UV Express units, taxis, and minibuses. Beneficiary identification and validation will continue to be handled by the LTFRB and other relevant government agencies.
LTFRB chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the digital channel could help improve access to assistance for qualified transport workers.
“Digital disbursement helps make the release of assistance more efficient and accessible for our transport sector beneficiaries, while also supporting broader efforts to modernize public service delivery,” Mendoza said.
Maya said digital payouts could reduce dependence on manual or over-the-counter distribution, which may require beneficiaries to travel to designated locations and wait for processing.
Recipients who receive assistance through Maya will also have access to a digital account that can be used for transfers, bills payment, and cashless purchases. Maya said other financial products available through its platform would remain subject to applicable eligibility requirements and terms.
“Beyond enabling faster and more convenient access to government assistance, digital accounts can also help transport workers participate more fully in the digital economy through tools such as savings, credit and cashless transactions,” said Shailesh Baidwan, group president of Maya and co-founder of Maya Bank.
The partnership builds on previous work between Maya and transport-sector agencies. Maya said it had supported LTFRB fuel subsidy disbursements during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently facilitates payments for the LTFRB Franchise Online Application system, as well as settlements for Metro Manila Development Authority traffic violation fees.
Maya Bank is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with deposits insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation up to P1 million per depositor.
Featured image: “Petron gas station at night” by Stratman² – (monitoring Joey’s health) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0