Fuel assistance for public utility vehicle drivers and operators will now move faster through digital accounts after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board tapped Maya to help distribute government subsidies under the Fuel Subsidy Program.
The move covers qualified operators and drivers of public utility jeepneys, UV Express units, taxis and minibuses. Through the partnership, beneficiaries may receive fuel aid through their Maya accounts, giving them another payout channel instead of relying mainly on manual releases and over-the-counter transactions.
For transport workers, the change matters because fuel is one of their biggest daily costs. Higher pump prices can cut into earnings fast, especially for drivers who depend on daily routes to support their families. The program gained renewed importance amid fuel cost concerns linked to tensions in the Middle East, which have added uncertainty to global energy markets.
The broader government fuel subsidy rollout was earlier placed at ₱2.5 billion, with individual drivers set to receive ₱5,000 and bus operators set to receive ₱10,000 per unit. Subsidies may be released through checks, fuel cards, cash, direct bank transfers and e-wallet accounts such as Maya.
Maya said it has already completed the initial batch of subsidy disbursements, but available reports did not disclose the amount released, the number of beneficiaries, or the next payout schedule.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor D. 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.”
The validation and identification of qualified beneficiaries will remain with the LTFRB and other government agencies, keeping the government in charge of determining who receives the aid.
Maya Group President and Maya Bank co-founder Shailesh Baidwan said digital accounts can also help transport workers access savings, credit and cashless transactions.
