Online registration to access funding allocated to residents under the government's electronic consumption benefits plan in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy will run from May 10 this year to 13 January next year, the government announced at a press conference today.

According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS), Macau’s third round of the electronic consumption benefits plan is a provisional measure launched by the government to spur domestic demand and ease financial pressure faced by local residents and businesses.

Details about the registration, funding and usage were announced during a press conference jointly held by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), Macau Monetary Authority (AMCM), and Social Welfare Bureau at Government Headquarters.

Both permanent or non-permanent residents, i.e., Macau ID card (BIR) holders, will be entitled to a start-up fund of 5,000 patacas (US$619), and a discount grant of 3,000 patacas.

Similar to last year’s plan, participants can choose either to use one of the eight locally-registered mobile payment platforms, or the electronic consumption card, in order to enjoy the benefits of the scheme, according to the GCS statement. 

Macau ID holders registered via a dedicated website of the Macau Monetary Authority will be able to receive the credits by May 23 at the earliest.

Macau ID holders wishing to continue with the mobile payment platform they selected for last year’s plan, may opt for “easy and quick” re-registration, the statement underlined.

Those wishing to receive their funds via the electronic consumption card, and who still possess a valid version of that card, may declare their intention to that effect, upon registration.

According to the statement, those who lost their card, have topped up their card, or registered their card in the name of another person may opt to receive a new e-consumption card. Anyone who has lost their e-consumption card is required to report the matter to the Public Security Police (PSP)

The period for using the funds will run from June 1 to February 28 next year. The eight-month validity period is two months longer than the previous round of the plan, the statement underlined.

This time the benefits plan can also be used to pay one’s water and electricity tariffs as well as natural gas, other kinds of fuel, telecommunication services, and audiovisual broadcasting services.

The rules for using the 5,000-pataca start-up fund and the 3,000-pataca discount grant will be similar to those applicable to the e-consumption card last year, such as spending no more than 300 patacas of the start-up fund per day, and a daily maximum of 100 patacas of the discount grant.

Each card or each mobile payment platform account can be used to purchase goods and services for up to 400 patacas a day, within the card or account’s validity period.

The mobile payment platform account, or the e-consumption card, can be topped up when the start-up fund has been spent, namely for holders to use up their 3,000-pataca discount grant. After top-up, the daily maximum expenditure via the discount grant will be 100 patacas.

The discount will be applied automatically. A receipt for each item of spending via the electronic consumption benefits plan will display the amount used via the start-up fund and the discount grant system, respectively, as well as the post-transaction balance.

Funds for minors can be transferred to either a parent or a guardian. Those aged between 12 and 17 who have a bank account may allocate the funding to their own account, or transfer it to another account.