Insider Spotlight
The shift away from cash simplifies how allowances and incentives are released, helping athletes receive financial support faster and more securely. By removing manual payouts, the system allows national athletes to focus on training and competition rather than administrative delays.
The big picture
Team Philippines is sending more than 1,600 athletes, coaches, and officials to the SEA Games, marking the country’s largest delegation to date.
In a move outlined in a press release, the Maya Visa prepaid cards are being used to digitally distribute allowances and incentives, ensuring timely and transparent support across the entire delegation.
How it benefits athletes
The cards are accepted at more than 130 million merchants and one million ATMs worldwide, giving athletes seamless access to funds while competing or training abroad.
This global acceptance helps cover daily expenses, travel needs, and emergencies without the risks of carrying cash.
With Maya-linked accounts, athletes can track transactions in real time, pay bills, save, and access other financial tools that promote better money management.
The system also reduces long queues and paperwork, improving overall efficiency during high-pressure competition periods.
What they’re saying
“Digital empowerment for athletes is part of PSC’s push toward modernization and ease of doing business,” said PSC Chair John Patrick Gregorio.
“By moving allowances to secure, digital channels, we reduce queues and paperwork, improve transparency, and help our athletes manage their finances more easily — especially when they’re representing the country internationally.”
“This partnership is about giving our athletes modern financial tools that work as hard as they do,” said Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group president and Maya Bank co-founder.
“By digitizing allowance disbursements and giving them a globally accepted prepaid card, we’re making it easier for them to budget, save, and spend securely — whether they’re in Manila, Bangkok, or anywhere in between.”
What’s next
The initiative forms part of the ongoing Championing the Pinoy Athlete program, which aims to modernize financial processes in Philippine sports.
Maya and the PSC are also exploring financial-wellness sessions, wider use of cashless payments in training and competitions, and broader adoption of digital tools to support athletes during and beyond their sporting careers. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
