Pag-IBIG boosts services to reach far-flung areas
LINGKOD PAG-IBIG ON WHEELS. Mini offices and Fund desks are set up at barangays or areas far from Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF/Pag-IBIG) branch or satellite offices to bring programs and services closer to members, Pag-IBIG Ilocos Region area head Mervin M. Pereda (left photo) said during a media presser held on July 5, 2022 at the Pag-IBIG Baguio Branch Office. (right photo) Pag-IBIG Baguio Branch head Corina Joyce B. Calaguin. //Merriam del Rosario, FNS
BAGUIO CITY — The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF/Pag-IBIG Fund) expanded its services to make it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of its members, and in response to the need for faster and more convenient delivery of services with the still ongoing pandemic.
In Region 1 and the Cordillera, HDMF’s Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels (LPOW) had its opening salvo this July further saturating the working group and bringing closer the programs and services to its members, especially those in the far-flung areas.
“The Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels is conceptualized for management to bring the Pag-IBIG Fund closer to the members, and also designed to cater to other earning groups,” Ilocos Region area head Mervin M. Pereda said during a media presser on July 5, 2022, at their Baguio branch office.
“Unang-una, mai-presenta ang Pag-IBIG para maramdaman nila at may pagkakataon sila na sila ay magpa-miyembro upang magkaroon sila nung dalawang mandato natin: ang paipon at saka ang ating programang pabahay,” Pereda said.
Pereda also said that Republic Act 9679 provides that all Filipino workers earning at least Php1,000.00 a month regardless of employment status is mandatorily covered by the Pag-IBIG Fund.
RA9679 is the “Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, otherwise known as Pag-IBIG (Pagtutulungan sa kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno) Fund”.
Pereda also said that members’ savings are guaranteed and continuously earn dividends, whether active or inactive and that dividends are compounding until such time that the member meets the grounds for withdrawal.
“Walang dormancy or closure of account ang bawa’t manggagawang Pilipino regardless of their status, inactive man yan,” Pereda said.
The Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels is stationed at barangays or in areas through the deployment of mini offices to cater the following services:
- Loan Application Acceptance (Multi-Purpose or “Ayuda” and Calamity Loan)
- Membership and MP2 Savings Account Registration
- Employer’s Registration
- Updating and verification of Member’s Contribution
- Retirement or Death claims
- Virtual Pag-IBIG account
- Loyalty Card Plus
- Other Fund inquiries
For his part, Marketing & Sales head Philip Raymund S. Salem encouraged all members to create their own virtual Pag-IBIG account for totally paperless transactions.
Salem also urged members to apply for a Loyalty Card Plus to avail of additional benefits like discounts from partner merchants.
Salem added that Multi-purpose loans (MPL) applied through the virtual account are disbursed through the Loyalty Card Plus.
Among other programs offered to members is the Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) Savings which is a special voluntary savings on top of Pag-IBIG 1, open only to active MP1 members.
Baguio Branch head Corina Joyce B. Calaguin said MP1 members who would like to increase their regular savings are given the option to register for MP2 Savings which allows savings as low as Php500.00 per transaction.
Calaguin added that the MP2 Savings has a five-year maturity period and each member is allowed maximum savings of P10M.
Calaguin also urged members to register to the Fund’s online service, the Virtual Pag-IBIG in order to access its programs anywhere, 24/7.
“So kahit nasa bahay ka…para kang nakikipag-transact sa isang lingkod Pag-IBIG o kaya para kang bumibisita sa isang Pag-IBIG branch,” Calaguin said.
Calaguin also said that application for MPL can be done through Virtual Pag-IBIG where loan proceeds are credited in full to the member’s Loyalty Card Plus or to the member’s Land Bank cash card immediately within a span of 2-3 days, without pre-deductions.
In an interview over the weekend, Calaguin said that the branch received over 90 new membership applications, including applications for MP2 during the Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels set up at the Baguio City market recently.
“Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels is like a mobile office to make the Fund’s programs and services more convenient for members to avail so that those in far-flung areas won’t need to travel long hours,” Calaguin said. #
