PUBLIC utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators will have faster access to government fuel assistance after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) partnered with digital financial services provider Maya to distribute fuel subsidies.
“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,” Maya Group President and Maya Bank co-founder Shailesh Baidwan said in a statement.
Under the Fuel Subsidy Program, qualified beneficiaries can receive government aid through their Maya accounts, reducing dependence on manual payout systems and over-the-counter transactions.
The LTFRB said the move is expected to improve the efficiency, accessibility and convenience of subsidy distribution for transport workers.
Beneficiaries include operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys (PUJs), UV Express units, taxis and minibuses.
Maya said it has already completed the initial batch of subsidy disbursements to beneficiaries.
The fuel subsidy program has gained renewed importance amid concerns over higher fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East, which have contributed to uncertainty in global energy markets and increased pressure on transport operators.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said 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."
While Maya will facilitate the release of funds, the validation and identification of qualified beneficiaries will continue to be handled by government agencies like the LTFRB to ensure transparency and proper targeting of assistance.
Maya said the initiative provides transport workers with digital accounts that can be used not only for receiving government assistance but also for a range of financial services, including savings, bill payments, insurance, credit products and cashless transactions.
Baidwan said Maya had assisted in fuel subsidy disbursements during the Covid pandemic and continues to support various transport-related government payment systems, including transactions through the LTFRB Franchise Online Application system and the payment of traffic violation fees administered by the Metro Manila Development Authority.