Insider Spotlight
The partnership allows SPUG customers to pay their electricity bills electronically through Maya, reducing dependence on manual and over-the-counter collection methods that have long dominated these areas.
The shift aligns with the government’s push for digitalization and ease of doing business, while improving access to essential services outside major urban centers.
Why it matters
NAPOCOR, through SPUG, supplies electricity to geographically isolated and underserved communities across the country.
While power generation in these areas is decentralized, many households already have mobile connectivity, making digital payment platforms a practical solution for improving customer experience and streamlining collections.
For Maya, the collaboration extends the use of digital financial services beyond urban centers and into communities where payment options have traditionally been limited.
For NAPOCOR, it supports efforts to modernize operations and improve service delivery in hard-to-reach areas.
What they’re saying
“Providing more accessible and efficient payment channels is an important part of improving service delivery, especially in remote and missionary areas,” said Jericho Jonas B. Nograles, president and CEO of NAPOCOR.
“Digital payments help reduce manual processes and make it more convenient for households to settle their electricity bills.”
“This initiative reflects our commitment to making digital financial services work for everyday needs, including essential utilities,” said Shailesh Baidwan, group president of Maya.
“By enabling digital bill payments for SPUG customers, we are helping extend the convenience and efficiency of digital finance to communities where payment options have traditionally been limited.”
Between the lines
Details of the partnership and its rollout were announced in a press release, highlighting how both organizations see digital payments as a key enabler of inclusive growth and operational efficiency in the public sector.
Beyond payments, the collaboration underscores a broader focus on using technology to modernize public services, improve reliability, and expand access to essential utilities nationwide.
The bigger picture
Through SPUG, NAPOCOR operates power facilities in hundreds of communities across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, serving nearly 1 million households.
Many of these areas remain off-grid and have historically relied on manual bill collection, underscoring the importance of modernizing payment channels to support efficient and accessible public service delivery. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
