The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has entered into a partnership with digital financial services platform Maya to enable the electronic disbursement of fuel subsidies to eligible public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader shift toward digital channels for social assistance programs, particularly as global fuel prices remain volatile.
Under the Fuel Subsidy Program, beneficiaries may now receive financial assistance directly through the Maya app. The digital system is designed to complement existing government payout mechanisms while reducing reliance on manual, over-the-counter distribution processes, which are typically slower and more resource-intensive.
The subsidy program is among the government’s measures to support the transport sector amid elevated fuel prices and continuing market uncertainty linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Beneficiaries cover a wide range of public transport operators and drivers, including those from public utility jeepneys (PUJs), UV Express services, taxis, and minibusses. Maya has already completed the initial batch of subsidy disbursements to qualified recipients.
To ensure proper targeting and accountability, beneficiary validation and identification remain under the responsibility of concerned government agencies, including the LTFRB.
“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,” s. Vigor D. Mendoza II, chairperson of the LTFRB, said.
Maya said that the use of digital disbursement systems can also expand financial inclusion among transport workers by providing access to digital accounts for savings, bill payments, credit, insurance, and cashless transactions.
“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,” Shailesh Baidwan, Group President of Maya and co-founder of Maya Bank, said.
The collaboration underscores the growing role of digital financial platforms in government aid distribution programs, as agencies continue to transition toward digital systems to improve efficiency, speed, and accessibility.
The initiative also builds on previous cooperation between Maya and transport sector stakeholders in promoting digital payment adoption across public transportation services.
Maya had earlier supported LTFRB fuel subsidy distributions during the pandemic. Aside from transport-related payouts, the platform also processes digital payments for government-linked transport services, including the LTFRB Franchise Online Application system and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic violation fee settlements.