New Makatizen Card Center opens for faster services

Makati continues to champion digital innovation and inclusive governance as Mayor Abby Binay led the opening of the new Makatizen Card Center at the Ground Floor of Makati City Hall’s main building.

The center serves as a dedicated hub for all services related to the Makatizen Card, streamlining processes for new applicants and existing cardholders. It reflects the city’s push for progressive, people-centered services under Mayor Abby’s administration.

“For the convenience of city residents and other qualified individuals, we have established a dedicated facility at City Hall for all transactions related to the Makatizen Card. It will serve as a one-stop shop catering to specific needs of existing cardholders and new applicants,” Mayor Abby said.

The Makatizen Card, first launched in 2017, consolidates all of the city’s health and social benefits in a single, government-issued ID, while also providing access to the country’s largest cashless ecosystem. The unified card embodies Mayor Abby’s vision of simplifying and digitizing city services for residents, employees, and especially the vulnerable sectors.

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) benefit from fully integrated programs, including free movie viewing in partner cinemas across the city. Senior citizens also receive their cash gifts through the Makatizen Card’s GCash app, eliminating the hassle of physical claim procedures.

“The facility aims to make the application process less burdensome, especially to senior citizens and PWDs, by catering to every possible concern or need in connection with the Makatizen Card,” Binay said.

Mayor Abby’s push for a unified card system stemmed from her recognition of the inconvenience of having multiple cards for various benefits. It has since evolved into a comprehensive solution, offered in both physical and virtual formats, that makes government services more accessible.

From January to May 2025, the city recorded 16,977 applications for the Makatizen Card, with around 9,092 cards already released within the same period. For 2024, the Information and Communication Technology Office generated 53,305 virtual Makatizen Cards, highlighting the growing adoption of the system.

The Makatizen Card was also the city’s first digital public-private partnership, developed in collaboration with Globe Telecom, G-Xchange Inc. (GXI), and iBayad Online Ventures Inc. GXI operates GCash, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet and finance app.

With the establishment of the new Makatizen Card Center, Makati continues to set the standard for responsive local governance, proving that technology and inclusive leadership can go hand in hand in building better communities.