Maya launches citizen ID card, 1st ‘DigiPalengke’

[16 NOVEMBER 2018] Residents of Valenzuela are set to enjoy cashless convenience within the city as Maya will soon roll out the Valenzuela citizen ID card and QR payments acceptance in New Marulas Public Market, dubbed the “first DigiPalengke of the North.”

The initiatives, made possible in partnership with Primetech Solutions, Inc., New Marulas Public Market and in collaboration with the City Government of Valenzuela, were launched in time for the city’s 395th Foundation Day.

BUILDING THE VALENZUELA CASHLESS ECOSYSTEM. In time for the celebration of its 395th Founding Anniversary, Maya Philippines in partnership with Primetech Solutions, Inc. and with the cooperation of Valenzuela City launched the “Valenzuela Ako Card ID” or VCARD, an identification and payment card in one exclusive to residents of the city and powered by Maya. Also unveiled during the launch was the New Marulas Public Market as the “1st DigiPalengke of the North,” where market-goers can pay for goods using their mobile phones via Maya QR. In photo are Ulysses Aguilar, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Mayor of the City of Valenzuela (4th from left); Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director of Maya Philippines (3rd from left); Philip Lim, Managing Director of New Marulas Public Market (4th from right); as well as key executives from Maya Philippines, Primetech Solutions, and Mega Build JPG Development.

Residents will soon be empowered with the Valenzuela Ako Card ID or VCard ID powered by Maya that will serve as an identification and payment card in one which they can use for cashless transactions whether in-store or online.

At the same time, Maya is equipping at least 200 vendors in the New Marulas Public Market with QR payments acceptance, allowing Valenzuela residents to pay for their day-to-day needs purchased from the market using only the Maya app installed on their phones.

SCAN TO PAY AT THE ‘DIGIPALENGKE’. Valenzuela City residents will be among the first to experience paying for their market goods using mobile-based QR payments technology at the New Marulas Public Market, now proudly powered by Maya QR. Present during what is dubbed as the ‘1st DigiPalengke of the North’ were (from left) Ulysses Aguilar, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Mayor of the City of Valenzuela; Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director at Maya Philippines; and Philip Lim, Managing Director of New Marulas Public Market. Also launched in time for the 395th Foundation Day celebration of the City of Valenzuela was the “Valenzuela Ako Card ID” or VCARD, an identification and payment card in one also powered by Maya.

This is a first-of-its-kind ‘DigiPalengke’ initiative in Northern Metro Manila where an entire public market is equipped to accept mobile cashless payments.

“This is truly a groundbreaking initiative that will help foster the economic growth of Valenzuela as it charts a path toward being a true ‘digital city’. Cashless payments are secure, convenient, and transparent, which makes delivery of government services much more efficient through the Maya-powered VCard ID,” said Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian.

UNVEILING THE 1ST ‘DIGIPALENGKE’ OF THE NORTH. Valenzuela City officials and executives from Maya Philippines officially unveil the marker commemorating the launch of the New Marulas Public Market as the ‘1st DigiPalengke of the North,’ where residents can quickly and safely pay for their market goods using only their mobile phones via Maya QR. Present during the unveiling ceremony are (from left) Philip Lim, Managing Director of New Marulas Public Market; Rep. Michael Fermin of Alay Buhay Party-List; Ulysses Aguilar, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Mayor of the City of Valenzuela; and Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director of Maya Philippines.

“We congratulate the city of Valenzuela for leading the charge in the launch of their very own VCard ID and the 1st ‘DigiPalengke’ of the North–a true digital financial inclusion initiative that will bring the benefits of cashless payments like Maya to the people who need it the most,” added Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director at Maya Philippines.

Preparing citizens for the digital economy

During launch, those who will transact a minimum amount of P250 via Maya QR at the New Marulas Public Market will receive a half kilo of rice to add to their daily household meal requirements.*

And because their VCard IDs are linked to a Maya account, this gives them access to a wealth of digital services available within the app. This includes instant prepaid mobile loading, bills payment, receiving remittances from Western Union, sending money to other Maya account holders, and online shopping through the virtual card, aside from in-store shopping via their physical VCard ID and Maya QR at partner merchants even outside the city.

UNVEILING THE MODERN PALENGKE. Maya and the New Marulas Public Market, together with the city government of Valenzuela, officially unveil the “1st DigiPalengke of the North” at the New Marulas Public Market on Friday, where residents can quickly and conveniently pay for their goods using their mobile phones via Maya QR. Also unveiled in time for the 395th Founding Anniversary of the city was the Valenzuela Ako Card ID or VCARD, an identification and prepaid payment card in one also powered by Maya. City officials and executives paid for their market purchases during the launch using Maya QR. In photo are (from left) Maya Business Head Mario Lazaro; New Marulas Public Market Managing Director Philip Lim; Office of the City Mayor Chief of Staff Ulysses Aguilar; and Maya COO and Managing Director Paolo Azzola.

They will also be entitled to receive cashbacks and promos being offered by Maya to its users, a handy mobile guide for which is available via maya.ph/featured-deals.

Valenzuela City joins a roster of communities and companies being enabled by Maya’s payments innovations in its goal of building a myriad of cashless ecosystems around the Philippines in pursuit of financial inclusion amid the growing digital economy.

Maya is the digital payments arm of Voyager Innovations, the leading technology company in the Philippines backed by PLDT, KKR, and Tencent. To know more about Maya, visit www.maya.ph or follow @MayaOfficial of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

*Promo valid from November 16 – 30, 2018