Pag-IBIG contribution hike gets OFW groups' support By TED CORDERO, GMA Integrated News

Organizations representing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have expressed support for the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund’s plan to increase members' monthly contributions this year. In a statement on Tuesday, Pag-IBIG said the premium hike gained the support of Kamag-anak at Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc. (KAKAMMPI), the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Inc. (KAMPI), the Kaibigan ng mga OCWs, and several other OFW groups. “We support unequivocally Pag-IBIG Fund’s proposal to increase the contributions of its members. An increase in contributions is definitely a step towards the right direction as this would mean more funds that could be employed for the benefit of members seeking to apply for home loans and short-term loans. Not only is it timely, but more importantly, it is the right thing to do,” said Luther Calderon, who serves as president of KAMPI. In their respective letters sent to Pag-IBIG Fund, the agency said the OFW groups took note that the new monthly savings rates would enable members to improve their benefits and better prepare for the future. Under Pag-IBIG Fund’s new savings rates, the maximum monthly compensation to be used in computing the required 2% employee savings and 2% employer share of Pag-IBIG Fund members shall be increased to P10,000 from the current P5,000. As a result, the monthly savings of Pag-IBIG Fund members, for both the employee’s share and the employer’s counterpart, shall increase to P200 each from the current P100. Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta, meanwhile, expressed her appreciation for the support of the OFW groups and gave assurance that Pag-IBIG Fund members would receive better benefits under the agency’s new rates. “We thank the KAKAMMPI, KAMPI, Kaibigan ng mga OCWs and all other OFW groups for their support and sharing in our efforts to improve the benefits received by our members, including our fellow Filipinos working overseas, by increasing our monthly savings rates,” Acosta said. “We at Pag-IBIG Fund recognize the aspirations of our fellow Filipinos working overseas [to provide] a better life and future for their families. That is why we assure our OFW members that the increase in the Pag-IBIG monthly savings rates shall mean better benefits to further help them pursue their dreams,” she said. “Under our new rates, members shall have higher Pag-IBIG savings that earn annual dividends, which they shall receive upon membership maturity or retirement, as well as higher multi-purpose and calamity loan amounts to help them with their financial needs. This shall also allow us to continue offering affordable home loans and provide them better opportunities to gain a home of their own,” she added. — VBL, GMA Integrated News

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