SMART Padala by Smart Communications aims in serving over 3,000 Mindanawons through their money remitting services through the digital platform.
PayMaya associate director and Smart Padala channel development officer Rolando “Butch” Conejos Jr. said the aim of the Smart Padala service is to make money remitting and sending easier without the long queues and waiting.
Smart Padala is a mobile money remittance service under PayMaya Philippines, the digital financial services arm of Voyager Innovations. With your Smart money card, one could transfer money to another Smart or Talk ‘N Text using the Smart Menu in your phone one could even pay bills, and shop online.
“Ginagawa natin ito para makatulong naman sa mga gustong magpadala ng pera sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa (We are doing this to help others who wish to send money to different parts of the country),” Conejos said in a media forum yesterday at Rekados Filipino Comfort Cuisine, Davao City.
Based from the records of the Inclusive Digital Finance Report released by FINTQ in 2017, more than 70 percent of provinces have medium to low access to formal financial services, effectively leaving them out of the growing digital economy.
Conejos said as a value-adding business service, Smart Padala is aiding local household sari-sari owners to earn more.
Conejos added one of the requirements of being a Smart Padala agent is owning at least a micro business like a sari-sari store and presenting necessary documents like business permits.
“If you want to be a Smart Padala partner, you don’t have to pay a franchise fee. Kailangan ninyo lan gawin ay magsubmit ng business permits, may maliit na tindahan, may konting puhunan kahit P5,000 (You just need to submit business permits, at least you own a small store, and have at least a capital of P5,000),” Conejos said, adding once the partnership is approved, Smart will provide free merchandising.
Conejos also said in investing a P5,000 capital, one could already earn around P13,000 to P15,000 in a month.