At this year’s Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Maya formalized an expanded collaboration to enhance e-government services and improve access to digital finance tools for millions of Filipinos.
The partnership supports DICT’s mandate to optimize government ICT systems under the E-Government Masterplan and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). It also advances the national goal of accelerating digital inclusion by bringing financial services — including payments, savings, credit and rewards — closer to citizens through trusted public–private cooperation.
A More Seamless eGovPH–Maya Experience
Under the cooperation agreement, DICT and Maya are working together to enable faster, more reliable digital payments within the eGovPH App and across Maya’s ecosystem. This includes developing embedded financial services that give users smoother transactions, access to digital tools such as savings and credit, and personalized incentives that encourage digital adoption.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- Seamless digital payments for government services across the eGovPH and Maya platforms;
- Digital financial solutions, including access to savings, credit, and insurance tools, as well as rewards and incentives;
- Financial inclusion initiatives using open finance, AI, and secure digital identity; and,
- Broader service enhancements aligned with DICT’s push for efficient, citizen-centered government transactions.
“Our collaboration with Maya strengthens the backbone of the eGov ecosystem,” said DICT Secretary Henry Aguda. “By enabling seamless digital payments and expanding access to financial tools such as savings, credit, and insurance in the eGovPH app, we move closer to a future where government transactions are simple, secure, and truly accessible to all Filipinos.”
Shailesh Baidwan, group president of Maya and co-founder of Maya Bank, emphasized the importance of integrating financial services into public platforms: “DICT is building the architecture for a modern digital government, and Maya is proud to deliver the financial layer that supports it — from convenient digital payments to AI-driven financial tools that help Filipinos transact, save and access credit with confidence. This collaboration shows how innovation and public service can move forward together.”
“Digital government works best when it is built around the real needs of people,” said Orlando Vea, founder and CEO of Maya and co-founder of Maya Bank. “This collaboration with DICT helps bring essential services closer to every Filipino—whether they’re paying for a permit, running a small business or working to support their families. Our role is to make the technology simple, secure and genuinely helpful, so more citizens can participate fully in the digital economy.”
Supporting PEMEDES: Digitizing and Strengthening the Delivery Services Sector
DICT and Maya also expanded their collaboration to support PEMEDES (Private Express and Messengerial Delivery Services) — the national regulatory framework overseeing licensed delivery operators and riders across the country.
PEMEDES underwent a significant upgrade in August 2025 with the launch of its AI-enabled, fully digital registration and licensing portal—replacing manual, paper-based processes with faster onboarding, automated compliance and stronger identity verification.
Through this partnership, Maya will support PEMEDES operators and riders by providing access to:
- secure digital payments for licensing, transactions and rider payouts;
- micro-savings, credit and insurance tools designed for delivery workers;
- rewards and incentives that encourage safe and compliant operations; and,
- more traceable and secure transactions across delivery ecosystems.
By embedding financial tools directly into PEMEDES’ digital processes, the initiative aims to strengthen the delivery services sector and give riders and operators greater financial stability, protection and access to essential financial services.
Philippine Leadership at SFF 2025
The formalization of the DICT–Maya collaboration at SFF underscores how the Philippines is advancing digital transformation through close cooperation between the government and the private sector.
Maya is a co-presenter of the Philippine Pavilion, organized by FintechAlliance.ph, where the country highlights its growing strengths in digital finance, open government, and practical, citizen-focused innovation.
The presence of DICT, Maya, and industry groups at SFF reflects a shared commitment to building scalable, real-world digital solutions that improve how Filipinos interact with both government and financial services—positioning the Philippines as an active and capable contributor to the region’s digital economy.