As Team Philippines gears up for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Maya and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are taking another major step toward modernizing athlete support. The country’s leading all-in-one fintech platform has partnered with PSC to roll out exclusive Maya Visa prepaid cards for national athletes and coaches—ensuring faster, safer, and more transparent allowance disbursement during one of the biggest sporting events in the region.
The initiative comes at a historic moment for Philippine sports. The country is set to send its largest-ever SEA Games delegation, with more than 1,600 athletes, coaches, and officials expected to represent the nation. Managing financial support for a delegation of this scale has long been a logistical challenge—one that Maya and PSC aim to solve through digital-first solutions.
Replacing Manual Allowances with Secure Digital Disbursements
Traditionally, allowance and incentive distribution involved manual processes that often meant long queues, paperwork, and delays. With the introduction of Maya Visa prepaid cards, these challenges are significantly reduced.
The exclusive prepaid cards are now being used to digitally disburse allowances and incentives, allowing athletes and coaches to receive funds directly and on time. Transactions are recorded in real time, improving transparency and accountability—both critical in managing public funds and supporting national athletes efficiently.
More importantly, the cards are globally accepted, working at over 130 million merchants and 1 million ATMs worldwide. This gives Team PH members reliable access to their funds whether they are training locally, competing in Thailand, or traveling abroad for preparation and recovery.
Empowering Athletes Beyond Competition
According to PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio, the partnership reflects the commission’s broader push toward modernization and ease of doing business.
By shifting allowances to secure digital channels, PSC aims to reduce administrative friction while helping athletes manage their finances more effectively—especially when representing the country overseas. The system minimizes reliance on cash and allows athletes to focus on what matters most: performance and preparation.
Through Maya-linked accounts, athletes and coaches can also pay bills, track spending, save money, and access other financial tools directly within the Maya app. These features go beyond short-term convenience, supporting better financial habits throughout an athlete’s career.
Championing the Pinoy Athlete in the Digital Age
The Maya–PSC collaboration is part of the ongoing Championing the Pinoy Athlete program, which seeks to modernize financial processes across Philippine sports. The initiative covers not only national athletes and coaches but also PSC staff—helping streamline operations across the board.
Maya Group President and Maya Bank Co-Founder Shailesh Baidwan emphasized that the partnership is about equipping athletes with tools that match their discipline and dedication.
By digitizing allowance disbursements and providing a globally accepted prepaid card, Maya aims to make budgeting, saving, and secure spending easier—whether athletes are in Manila, Bangkok, or anywhere their sporting journey takes them.
Building Financial Wellness That Lasts Beyond the Games
Beyond efficiency and convenience, the Maya Visa prepaid cards play a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion and long-term financial wellness among Filipino athletes and coaches. Digital disbursements help reduce cash handling risks, encourage responsible spending, and introduce athletes to modern banking tools early in their careers.
This foundation is especially important given the financial realities many athletes face once competition ends. By building healthy financial habits during their active years, athletes are better positioned for stability even after retiring from professional sports.
What’s Next for Maya and Philippine Sports
Maya and PSC are already exploring further integrations to support the broader sports ecosystem. These include financial wellness sessions for athletes, expanded use of cashless payments in training facilities and competitions, and wider adoption of digital financial tools across Philippine sports governance.
As Team Philippines competes on the SEA Games stage, this partnership ensures that athletes are not only physically prepared—but also financially empowered, supported, and future-ready.
