Smart and D One Mark First Year of Empowering Digital Entrepreneurs

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to strengthen its partnership with D One Legacy PH Corp, working closely to expand digital access and unlock sustainable livelihood opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs nationwide. The collaboration focuses on equipping D One members with a strong e-loading business foundation supported by Smart’s fast, reliable, and extensive mobile network.

 

“We are happy to support D One as they continue to open doors for Filipinos seeking practical and sustainable sources of income,” said Christian So, Assistant Vice President and Head of Modern Trade Key Accounts at Smart. “Our nationwide network ensures that every D One member can confidently support their customers and build meaningful livelihood opportunities for themselves and their families.”

 

By integrating Smart’s broad portfolio of prepaid and connectivity services into D One’s growing distribution network, micro entrepreneurs across the country gain the ability to serve more customers, offer seamless loading transactions, and meet the daily connectivity needs of their communities. This enables D One members to build stable earning opportunities while helping expand digital access in both urban and underserved areas.

 

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Smart for their continued support and partnership. Through this collaboration, we have been able to reach more micro-entrepreneurs and provide them with opportunities to grow their livelihood and improve their lives," said Louie Bantigui, President and CEO of D1 Legacy PH Corp.

 

The partnership strengthens grassroots retail distribution for mobile services, enabling more Filipinos to participate in the digital economy through accessible entrepreneurial pathways. With D One’s fast-growing member base and Smart’s dependable connectivity, they are helping broaden financial inclusion, improve customer access to essential mobile services, and extend the benefits of digital transformation to more communities nationwide.

E-wallet Use Jumps 75% in Sari-Sari Stores, Fueling Digital Transformation - Packworks Report

24 October 2025 Manila, Philippines — Sari-sari stores are rapidly digitalizing their operations, driven by a significant increase in e-wallet use, according to a new report from Filipino tech startup Packworks.

The report used their internal transaction records as the starting point to conduct a direct survey of more than 2,000 sari-sari store owners within Packworks' nationwide network of 300,000+ stores from January to August 2025.

According to the data, half of the store owners surveyed reported a 75% increase in e-wallet usage in their store operations between January and August. The remaining respondents also saw substantial growth: 20% experienced a 100% increase in usage, another 20% saw a 50% increase, and 10% reported a 10% rise.

Store owners largely attribute this growing adoption to increased consumer demand, as their customers are also turning to e-wallets to buy goods, access funds, and settle bills at their local stores. 

“Maraming nang nagpapa-cash-in at cash-out at bumibili gamit ang mga e-wallet. Dahil dumarami, gusto namin masabayan ang pangangailangan nila. Nakakatulong din naman ito sa amin para magkaroon kami ng dagdag kita,” (A lot of our customers are making cash-in and cash-out transactions aside from buying products with e-wallets. Since more customers are using them, we want to keep up with their needs. It also helps us earn a little extra), said Marijane Rea, a sari-sari store owner from Laguna.

Store owners are using e-wallets for a variety of business operations. About 40% use the platforms for in-store payments, 30% for bill payments, and the remaining 30% for cash-in and cash-out transactions.

This digital shift is quickly becoming a critical source of revenue. Around 13% of store owners say their e-wallet earnings equal their revenue from physical goods. Among the rest of the respondents, e-wallets still contribute significantly: 66% say that about 20% of their revenues come from e-wallet use, and the remaining 21% say their e-wallet earnings account for 10% of their total revenue.

GCash and Maya are the widely used e-wallets, with 85% of store owners reporting using GCash for their business transactions and 15% using Maya.

“Bukod sa kita namin sa tindahan, nagkaroon kami ng dagdag kita sa paggamit sa mga e-wallet kasi meron kaming tubo na PHP 10 hanggang PHP 20 sa pag-cash-in at cash-out, o di kaya tuwing nagbabayad ng kuryente, tubig, o internet ang mga customer,” (Besides the income we earn from the store, we also get extra earnings from using e-wallets because we earn a profit of PHP 10 to PHP 20 from cash-in and cash-out transactions, or whenever customers pay for electricity, water, or internet bills), said Rachel Miguel, a store owner from Bacolod. 

To increase their transaction capacity and meet surging customer demand, sari-sari stores are strategically using up to five e-wallet accounts. According to the report, with each account having a monthly limit of PHP 100,000 to PHP 500,000, the combined monthly transaction capacity is up to PHP 3.5 million.

This trend supports the 30% of store owners’ interest in upgrading their e-wallets to business accounts to maintain a higher monthly limit of PHP 1 million.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicated that approximately 57% of total retail transactions were cashless in 2024, highlighting the increasing use of digital payments for everyday purchases and financial transactions.

Packworks Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap highlights that sari-sari stores are rapidly embracing digital tools such as e-wallets to diversify their services and grow their businesses.

“The surge in e-wallet use proves that sari-sari stores are rapidly evolving into vital digital hubs for their communities. Aside from simply selling 'tingi' physical items, they are now diversifying their product range, offering high-margin, value-added financial services and integrating digital tools such as our app to fundamentally improve their operations and function as near-frictionless nano-banks for the neighborhoods they serve. These findings show that sari-sari stores have been at the forefront leading this digital transformation at the grassroots level,” cited Yap, “And there's an urgent need to support these micro-entrepreneurs with the right fintech to ensure they can fully capitalize on this opportunity, as they often say in sari-stores, a peso saved is a peso earned!” 

For more studies and data trends insights in sari-sari stores, you may visit http://packworks.io/ or Packworks’ Facebook page to learn more.

Customers Enjoy Bigger, More Exciting Rewards with PLDT, Smart, and Maya at SM Store

Shoppers can enjoy bigger and more exciting rewards during all of SM Store’s 3-Day Sale schedules in 2024 nationwide from the country’s largest integrated network provider PLDT Inc. (PLDT), the fastest mobile network Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and the all-in-one money app Maya.

“Our partnership with SM Store has enabled us to delight our customers and elevate their customer experience, serving them with rewards that help them meet their connectivity and technology needs at home or on-the-go,” said Chito M. Franco, Consumer Sales VP and Head of Key Accounts at PLDT and Smart.

From March 15 to 17, shoppers can enjoy these benefits at SM Bataan, Batangas, Bicutan, Cebu, Calamba, SM Center Dagupan, SM Center Muntinlupa, SM Center Pasig, SM Center Sangandaan, SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown, Cubao, Dasmarinas, Estancia, Fairview, Iloilo, Makati, Marilao, Puerto Princesa, Quiapo, Sorsogon, Sta. Mesa, Tanza, Tarlac, Southmall, Taytay, and Telabastagan.

“SM Store is happy to have PLDT, Smart, and Maya as our partners in achieving our goal to make the shopping experience of our customers more convenient, exciting, and fun,” said Dhinno Francis S. Tiu, EVP and Operations and Sales Support Head at SM Store.

Mobile customers can purchase P1,000-worth of Smart prepaid products to get a chance to win a Smart Prepaid 5G smartphone kit during the raffle. They can also enjoy a 12% discount on the Call and Text Card 500, and 8% off on CTC 300 and electronic load 100.

Meanwhile, PLDT Home customers will be able to get a free installation (worth P3,600) when they successfully apply for Fiber Plan 1399 and up. Maya users, on the other hand, can get a chance to win all-expense paid trip to Boracay or Palawan for four when they use Maya to pay at SM. They can get raffle entries when they spend at least Php100, or when they cash in for free up to P10,000.

SM is also raffling off P10,000 shopping money to a lucky customer who will purchase any amount from SM Store during the promo period. Customers will also be entitled to play “What’s in the Bag” for more goodies and prizes.

Shoppers can monitor official SM Store and Smart social media accounts for the announcement of other 3-day sale dates and locations.

Fastest Growing in PH: Globally Accepted Maya Card Sets New Industry Record

The Maya Card, powered by the #1 Digital Bank App Maya, is the Philippine's fastest-growing prepaid card due to its unmatched ease of use, convenience, safety, and worldwide acceptance.  

Visa, a world leader in digital payments, presented Maya with an award for being the top prepaid card issuer in the country, marking its third consecutive accolade from 2021 to 2023. 

This distinction is a testament to Maya's sustained year-on-year growth and its highest prepaid payment volumes.

 

"We've made it incredibly simple for millions of Filipinos to get a card. This ease of access particularly resonates with the youth, who not only use it for everyday purchases but also as a reliable companion for global travel. It's exciting to see the Maya Card become the fastest-growing card in the Philippines," said Shailesh Baidwan, Group President of Maya and Co-Founder of Maya Bank.  

 

The Ultimate in Convenience and Flexibility 

Getting a Maya Card is very easy, reflecting Maya's commitment to user convenience. Customers with an upgraded account can obtain a virtual and physical card through the app without the need for additional documents and link it seamlessly to their wallets. Users simply need to navigate to the “Cards” section within the Maya app to place their order. 

 

The virtual card instantly opens a world of online shopping and the physical card doubles as an ATM card, enabling effortless payments for daily needs. Its broad compatibility across both online shops and brick-and-mortar stores demonstrates its unmatched versatility. 

 

Designed with a minimalist and secure aesthetic, the Maya Card features the user's unique @username instead of the full name and card number, adding a personal touch without compromising security. 

 

Global Acceptance 

Once activated and linked to the user's wallet, the Maya Card is accepted worldwide, offering a seamless payment solution both in the Philippines and abroad. This global acceptance proves invaluable especially for freelancers and travelers, facilitating easy access to funds. 

 

The Maya Card unlocks global shopping at over 80 million merchants and ATM access, with instant international activation – no call to customer support is needed. Wherever they are in the world. users are kept informed and in charge with real-time transaction alerts directly through the Maya app.  

 

Rewarding Personalized Experience   

The Maya Card’s unique strength also lies in its rewarding digital banking services. Using it for everyday payments allows customers to earn up to 14% interest rate per annum, credited daily to their savings accounts.  

 

Moreover, frequent card usage also strengthens the user's financial footprint, leading to better opportunities for instant borrowing and higher credit limits within the app.   

   

Innovating further, Maya provides personalized card options offering co-branded editions, such as the FIFA Women's World Cup and Mobile Legends, alongside the all-in-one student ID of Ateneo De Manila University.  

   

Maya is the #1 Fintech Ecosystem in the Philippines, with Maya, the #1 Digital Bank, and Maya Business, the #1 Omni-Channel Payment Processor. More information about Maya is available at maya.ph and mayabank.ph. Keep posted on news and updates by following @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.