For most families of overseas Filipino workers, the process of receiving money from abroad has not changed much. Whenever a loved one sends you money from overseas, you need to go to a facility where you can collect the cash physically. You then have to line up and go through various steps prior to the transaction itself.
PayMaya Philippines (formerly Smart eMoney, Inc.) now offers families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) a better way. Through a partnership with the government agency Overseas Workers Welfare Agency (OWWA), families can now accept remittances conveniently through the Smart Money MasterCard.
Smart Money MasterCard
With the Smart Money MasterCard, dependents of OFWs can receive cash remittances from family abroad straight to their Smart Money account. When the account is linked to a mobile phone, the easier it is to monitor remittances; dependents can even perform various financial transactions simply via SMS. They can purchase goods, or withdraw money straight from any ATM when used with the physical Smart Money MasterCard.
Lawrence Ferrer, Vice President of PayMaya Philippines, said the partnership helps the families of OFWs in very tangible ways.
“Getting to your nearest collection facility is not free. You have to pay for gasoline if you’re driving, or a fare – and sometimes, multiple fares if the trip is long – to get there. By saving beneficiaries the cost of this journey, we essentially enable OFWs to give more of their money – money that they’ve worked long and hard for, of course – to go straight to their loved ones,” he said.
Helping OFWs
Emma Sinclair, OWWA Regional Welfare Office Director, said Smart Money could not have come at a better time.
“While Filipinos love the holiday season, it can still be a stressful time. The last thing we need are multiple trips to a collection facility to get remittance from your loved ones. We would like to acknowledge Smart Money and the role that they are taking to help our OFWs and their loved ones,” she said.
The families of OFWs are also excited. Rebecca Tubongbanua, who is 54 years old, has a processed food business with her husband Nestor Tubongbanua, a seaman of 35 years.
“Maganda ito dahil importante ang pinapadala sa amin, ginagamit namin sa business,” she said.
For families of OFWs like Rebecca, indeed, remittance is part of their family’s lifeline and being enabled with Smart Money can help them keep the ties even closer.
PayMaya Philippines is the pioneer and leader in mobile money and digital financial services, with over 15 years of experience innovating on products and services across market segments and catering to the financial transaction requirements of the banked and unbanked. Together with Voyager Innovations, PayMaya Philippines forms the digital innovations unit of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc.
