Maya executives turn over to Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick Gregorio (3rd from left) Maya Visa prepaid cards for Philippine national athletes and coaches in time for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. From left: Marvin Santos, Head for Public Sector, Enterprise Business; Toff Rada, Head of Corporate Affairs;Â and Nick Wiwayco, Head of PR and Corporate Communications.
Maya and the Philippine Sports Commission have strengthened their partnership by rolling out exclusive Maya Visa prepaid cards to national athletes and coaches, as Team Philippines fields its biggest delegation yet for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
With more than 1,600 athletes, coaches, and officials set to represent the country, the digital card distribution is designed to ensure faster, safer, and more transparent delivery of allowances and incentives. The initiative replaces manual cash disbursements with a fully digital system, helping streamline financial support for the national team during international competition.
The Maya Visa prepaid cards are accepted at over 130 million merchants and one million ATMs worldwide, giving athletes convenient access to funds whether they are training locally or competing abroad. Allowances and incentives are credited directly to the cards, reducing delays, queues, and paperwork while improving accountability.
The exclusive Maya Visa prepaid cards for Philippines athletes and coaches will be used to disburse allowances and incentives digitally, replacing manual disbursements.
PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio said the move reflects the agency’s push toward modernization and ease of doing business. By shifting to secure digital channels, he noted, the commission is improving transparency and making it easier for athletes to manage their finances, especially while representing the country overseas.
The rollout forms part of the ongoing Championing the Pinoy Athlete program with Maya, which aims to modernize financial processes in Philippine sports while supporting the long-term financial well-being of athletes, coaches, and PSC staff. Through Maya-linked accounts, users can receive funds on time, pay for purchases and bills, monitor transactions in real time, save, and access other financial tools such as investments and responsible credit.
Maya Group President and Maya Bank co-founder Shailesh Baidwan said the partnership is about equipping athletes with modern financial tools that match their level of performance. By digitizing disbursements and providing a globally accepted prepaid card, he said, Maya is helping athletes budget, save, and spend securely wherever competition takes them.
Beyond convenience, the initiative also promotes financial inclusion and healthier money habits among athletes and coaches. The digital system reduces reliance on cash, encourages better financial management during travel and competition, and helps lay the groundwork for long-term financial stability even after their sporting careers.
Maya and the PSC are also exploring further integrations to support the broader sports community, including financial wellness sessions for athletes, wider use of cashless payments in training and competitions, and expanded adoption of digital financial tools across Philippine sports governance.