New UP ID doubles as cash card

MANILA, Philippines — Starting in August, students of the University of the Philippines (UP) will be able to use their identification cards to pay for meals, dormitory and other school fees.

University officials this week signed an agreement with PayMaya Philippines for the development of a “powered up” UP ID, which would allow students and employees to access the financial services of the mobile money and payments company.

UP president Danilo Concepcion said the project was initially envisioned as a meal card for students on scholarship programs with food allowance. 

Later discussions, however, led to a full-blown reimagining of the UP ID, which would now allow students to receive their allowances and stipends and use these to pay for meals and school fees.

The new ID will replace the bar code with radio frequency identification/near-field communication and be primarily used for internal university transactions such as those in libraries, offices and cafeterias. 

It will also be used for access and timekeeping.

UP said students and employees across all campuses nationwide will also have the option to avail themselves of PayMaya’s financial services.

“These additional external financial services by PayMaya are not endorsed by UP nor required by UP of its constituents,” said the university.

“Should the UP ID owners decide to enable these services, provided that the cards are valid and active, theirs will be a private and personal agreement with PayMaya,” it added.