BPI Safe Sakay (BPI Safe Ride): Embedded Commuter Insurance for Urban Mobility Ecosystems Qorus-NTT DATA Innovation in Insurance Awards 2026

Safe Sakay is a commuter-focused micro-insurance innovation developed by BPI/MS Insurance Corporation in collaboration with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). The project addresses a major protection gap affecting one of the largest yet least protected segments in emerging markets: daily urban commuters.

Sakay is the Filipino word that means to ride or to board so that Safe Sakay translates to Safe Ride.

In the Philippines, millions of people rely on trains, buses, ride-hailing services, and motorcycle taxis to travel to work every day. These commuters spend several hours on the road daily and face significant exposure to accidents. Yet insurance products have traditionally focused on vehicles or generic personal accident coverage rather than the commuter experience itself.

BPI MS approached this problem through customer insight rather than traditional product design. Working with BPI’s Data Science and Analytics teams, the company analyzed commuting patterns, mobility behaviors, and transaction data within the bank ecosystem to validate the size and relevance of commuter segments.

This analysis confirmed that commuters represented a large, underserved market with clear protection needs. Safe Sakay was therefore designed specifically around commuter realities: simple accident protection, affordable pricing, and benefits aligned with everyday travel risks.

Equally important was the delivery model. Safe Sakay was built around a frictionless digital journey delivered through a one-page microsite where customers can complete the entire process—application, payment, and policy issuance—in minutes.

The decision to use a lightweight web-based experience rather than a mobile application was deliberate. Research indicated that requiring customers to download a dedicated app would introduce unnecessary friction and discourage first-time insurance buyers. By removing the need for app installation and minimizing required information, Safe Sakay allows customers to access protection instantly through a QR code or web link shared by bank personnel.

This approach transforms the traditional bancassurance model. Instead of lengthy referrals or manual processing, bank staff simply provide a link or QR code while customers complete the transaction independently in minutes. The result is a scalable, customer-friendly form of bancassurance that reduces operational burden while improving accessibility.

Since launch in October 2024, Safe Sakay has demonstrated strong adoption. In 2025 alone, the product issued 21,797 policies and generated approximately PHP 7 million in gross written premiums, exceeding initial projections.

Safe Sakay also became the foundation for further ecosystem innovation. Insights from the commuter segment and the success of the digital purchase journey directly informed the development of GCash PasaHERO, a commuter-focused insurance solution embedded within the GCash super-app. While Safe Sakay validated commuter protection within the banking ecosystem, PasaHERO extended the same concept to digital wallet platforms, enabling access to millions of additional users.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how Safe Sakay evolved from a single product innovation into a scalable framework for mobility-centric insurance embedded across financial ecosystems.

As cities around the world continue to face growing mobility risks and increasing reliance on shared transportation, the Safe Sakay model offers a replicable approach for insurers seeking to embed protection within everyday urban mobility journeys.