Mandatory Pag-IBIG for OFWs still in effect

Contrary to earlier reports, the mandatory Pag-IBIG fund coverage for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) will still be implemented as provided in a newly implemented law, the government’s savings and shelter financing agency clarified Thursday.

In an interview with GMANews.TV, Pag-IBIG Fund Vice President for Public Relations and Information Services Group Margie Jorillo said they have no choice but to implement the mandatory coverage for OFWs, which involves a P100 monthly contribution, as it is mandated by the law.

“We are legally bound to implement mandatory Pag-IBIG membership coverage," Jorillo said, citing Republic Act (RA) 9679 or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law, which took effect in January.

RA 9679 mandates a monthly P100-contribution from members for such benefits as savings, short-term loans and housing loans. The law’s coverage was expanded to include, among others, Filipino workers employed abroad and here in the country by foreign employers.

Women’s rights group Gabriela-Hong Kong earlier released a statement saying that due to protests from OFWs based in the Chinese territory, Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Jaime Fabiaña declared in a visit that OFWs will not be charged the coverage fee.

“Sabi ni CEO Fabiaña, wala raw siyang naaalalang may sinabi siyang ganoon (CEO Fabiaña said he doesn’t remember saying anything to that effect)," Jorillo maintained.

Fabiaña recently visited the former British colony, with its high concentration of OFWs, as the agency’s first stop in a series of visits to explain the new law and the benefits that come with mandatory membership.

“In fact, the OFWs in Hong Kong welcomed the Pag-IBIG coverage. More than 200 OFWs flocked to the Philippine Consulate General there and even paid in advance," Jorillo said.

Jorillo added that the group may have “misconstrued" another declaration from Fabiaña, where he clarified that Pag-IBIG membership will not be made a requirement for the processing of OFWs’ overseas employment certificate (OEC).

“They put two and two together and thought that Fabiaña was referring to the mandatory coverage. Mandatory coverage is still in effect, but there’s no such thing as Pag-IBIG membership being made a requirement for OEC," she said.

Since November last year, the government ceased from making a similar mandatory membership to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as a requirement for OEC processing.

She confirmed, however, that talks are ongoing on making Pag-IBIG fund membership a requirement for OEC processing.

Pag-IBIG Fund plans next on visiting the Middle East and Europe to explain the new law to OFWs in those regions, Jorillo said. - KBK, GMANews.TV

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