LTFRB Fuel Subsidy Payouts Now Coursed Via Maya

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has started using Maya to distribute fuel subsidies to transport workers, marking another step in the government’s shift away from manual aid payouts.

Under the government’s Fuel Subsidy Program, eligible drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys, UV express units, taxis and minibuses may receive assistance directly through the Maya app. Maya said it recently completed the first batch of disbursements to beneficiaries.

The partnership comes as the government continues to roll out measures to cushion transport workers from elevated fuel costs and market volatility linked to tensions in the Middle East.

Beneficiary validation and identification will remain with the LTFRB and other relevant government agencies, a setup meant to ensure that subsidies are properly targeted.

“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,” LTFRB chairperson Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement on Saturday, June 20.

The tie-up adds another digital channel to the government’s existing disbursement mechanisms, with Maya positioning the service as a way to improve both aid delivery and access to financial services.

“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.

The company said the initiative builds on earlier collaborations with the transport sector to support digital payment adoption in public transportation services.

Maya had also supported LTFRB fuel subsidy disbursements during the pandemic. It also processes digital payments for transport-related government services, including the LTFRB Franchise Online Application system and the settlement of Metro Manila Development Authority traffic violation fees.

The latest partnership reflects the growing use of digital financial platforms in government assistance programs, as agencies look for ways to improve the speed, efficiency and accessibility of aid distribution.

However, Maya did not disclose the amount released under the first batch of disbursements, the number of beneficiaries covered or the timeline for succeeding payouts.