The Makati City government has inaugurated a dedicated Makatizen Card Center on the ground floor of City Hall’s main building to streamline services for residents and city workers.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the facility will serve as a one-stop shop for online applications, virtual card generation, card replacement, inquiries, and card releasing.
The Makatizen Card, first launched in 2017, integrates various city-provided health and social benefits, including those under the Blu Card and PWD Card programs.
Senior citizens can use the virtual card to watch free movies at partner cinemas, while cash gifts under the Blu Card program are disbursed through the card’s GCash app.
The center is designed to make the application process easier, especially for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
From January to May 2025, over 16,900 Makatizen card applications were recorded, and 9,092 cards have been issued.
Additionally, more than 53,000 virtual Makatizen Cards were generated in 2024.
The project is Makati’s first digital public-private partnership, launched with Globe Telecom, GCash operator G-Xchange, and iBayad Online Ventures, aiming to unify and simplify access to city benefits.
Mayor Binay emphasized that the card plays a significant role in advancing the city’s digital governance and financial inclusion efforts. The integration with GCash enables residents to conveniently access funds and benefits without the need for physical transactions.
City officials are also exploring future enhancements to the Makatizen Card system, including potential partnerships with additional private-sector service providers to offer more incentives and discounts to cardholders.
The local government has committed to a continuous information campaign to raise awareness among residents and ensure wider adoption of the Makatizen Card, particularly among marginalized sectors and newly arrived city workers.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Mayor Abby opens new Makatizen Card Center at Makati City Hall.”
