DICT pushes for seamless e-government payments

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines is deepening its digital government overhaul as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and fintech platform Maya broaden their collaboration, signing a new agreement at the Singapore FinTech Festival to streamline e-government payments and widen access to digital financial services.

The deal supports DICT’s mandate to modernize government ICT infrastructure under the E-Government Masterplan and the Philippine Development Plan. It also advances the Marcos administration’s goal of expanding financial inclusion by embedding payments, savings, credit and rewards directly into public-facing digital platforms.

Under the expanded partnership, DICT and Maya will roll out faster, more reliable payment rails across the eGovPH app and Maya’s ecosystem.

The cooperation includes developing embedded financial services — from digital payments and savings features to credit access and personalized rewards — to push more citizens toward cashless transactions.

Key initiatives include integrating digital payments across eGovPH and Maya, expanding access to insurance and credit products, enabling open-finance-driven inclusion programs and accelerating DICT’s efforts to simplify government processes through secure digital identity and AI-powered services.

“Strengthening the financial backbone of the eGov ecosystem brings us closer to a future where government transactions are simple, secure and accessible to all Filipinos,” DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said.

Maya Group President Shailesh Baidwan said the company aims to supply the “financial layer” for a more modern public sector, adding that AI-enabled tools for payments, savings and credit will help more Filipinos engage confidently in the digital economy.

The tie-up also expands to PEMEDES, the regulatory framework overseeing private delivery and messengerial service operators nationwide.

PEMEDES shifted to a fully automated digital licensing system in August, using AI for onboarding, compliance checks and identity verification.

Through the new agreement, Maya will provide PEMEDES operators and riders with secure digital payment channels for fees and payouts, micro-savings and credit access, insurance products and rewards aimed at promoting safer, compliant operations.

The effort seeks to build more financially resilient delivery ecosystems and stabilize income flows for gig-economy workers.

The signing at SFF underscores the Philippines’ push to position itself as a rising player in Southeast Asia’s digital economy. Maya is co-presenter of the Philippine Pavilion, organized by FintechAlliance.ph, where the government and private sector are showcasing initiatives across open finance, digital identity and e-government integration.