Pag-IBIG Overseas Program

Money Matters: Pag-IBIG Fund Provident Savings and Provident Claims

Every member of the Home Development Mutual Fund — or anyone who desires to be one – should know that there are basically three types of benefits that are available to qualified members. They are the following:

1. Short-Term Loan — This is the Multi-Purpose Loan Program of the Pag-IBIG Fund that is payable in 24 months. The one thing that makes it unique is that the loan amount that can be granted to you is dependent on your “savings” with the fund. Let’s discuss the savings part in the succeeding paragraphs. A lot of people call it with many names such as personal loan, salary loan, cash loan, etc. It doesn’t matter what name you call it, you can use the proceeds anyway you want.

Click this link to know more about the Pag-IBIG Short-Term Loan Program.

2. Housing Loan — To many of its members, the Pag-IBIG Fund is almost synonymous with Housing Loan. This is a long-term home loan program that qualified members can tap in order to finance the purchase of a real estate in the Philippines. The article entitled Pag-IBIG Housing Loan 101 is a good place to start learning about this program.

3. Provident Savings — Your contributions to the Fund are like your Time-Deposit Account in the bank. It earns interest overtime and you can withdraw it, too. We’ve already mentioned a few things about this in the past article, but here we’ll elaborate more in this article, so keep reading.

Provident Savings — What Is And How It Works

Pag-IBIG Money Savings and Claims I searched for the meaning of the word “provident” and I got a good response. Provident (an adjective) means “making or indicative of timely preparation for the future.” Thanks Google, I don’t have to open my good old dictionary.

The meaning of the word “savings” should be easy, right? It is explained below.

Savings here refer to your membership contributions to the Pag-IBIG Fund. If you really think about it, that’s your own money that you “saved” with the fund. If you are locally employed in the Philippines, you know for a fact that your employer is also mandated by Law to contribute to your savings.

The Pag-IBIG Fund is one huge organization that pools together all the savings of all its members and invests that money by financing real estate development projects and mortgage loans which would eventually be beneficial to its members. As such, this money is expected to grow, or earn, over the course of time.

As a member, you must also be aware of the term Total Accumulated Value (TAV), which is your total contributions plus that of your employers (if you are employed) and the dividend earned by that money.

So essentially, Provident Savings is the TAV money which you can claim in some future time as a result of becoming a member of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Provident Claims Or How To Withdraw Your Money

This part is exciting and irritating as well.

Here’s a minor irritation you have to deal with: you can’t just get your money anytime you need it. There are set guidelines on when you can apply for provident claims.

Here are the six instances when you are entitled to get your money from the Pag-IBIG Fund. The document requirements are also listed for each of the respective category of provident claims.

1. Membership Maturity – Regular members of the Pag-IBIG Program or the Pag-IBIG I can apply for provident claims upon maturity of their membership. Maturity here means having made an equivalent of 240 monthly contributions, so that’s roughly 20 years. (See the Basic Document Requirements below.)

Members of Pag-IBIG Overseas Program have their maturity date set from 5 to 20 years. They are advised to have their POP Passbook when applying for the provident claim.

2. Retirement – The retirement can be as early as 45 years old to the mandatory age of 65. The following are the important documents to bring:

Notarized Certificate of Early Retirement (For Private Employee, at least 45 years old)
SSS/GSIS Retirement Voucher or any two valid IDs
For AFP, Philippine Navy and Army Personnel (Any of the following: Order of Retirement, Updated Statement of Service, Statement of Last Payment )

3. Separation from the service due to health reasons

Important Documents:

Physician’s Certificate/Statement
Notarized Sworn Employer’s Certification that member was separated from the service due to health reasons
Latest SSS Disability Voucher (For Private Employee)

4. Permanent and Total Disability or Insanity

Important Documents:

Physician’s Certificate/Statement of Insanity
SSS Total Disability Voucher (If Private Employee)
For AFP, Philippine Navy and Army Personnel: ( Updated Statement of Service, Statement of Last Payment, Compulsory Disability Discharge Order)

5. Permanent Departure from the country

If you have another to call home and you finally said goodbye to the Philippines, here are some documents to prepare:

Notarized Sworn Declaration of Intention to Depart from the Philippines Permanently
Photocopy of Passport
Any of the following : Immigrant Visa, Residence Visa, Settlement Visa

6. Death

That dreaded word. Beneficiaries or heirs should prepare the following documents:

Member’s Death Certificate issued by NSO
Certification from Funeral Parlor
Notarized Proof of Surviving Legal Heirs
Notarized Affidavit of Guardianship (For children 18 years old and below, or physically/mentally incompetent)
Birth Certificate of all Children, if any, issued by NSO or Baptismal/Confirmation Certificate

To establish relationship with the deceased member, the claimant shall submit any of the following:

Member’s / Claimant’s Birth Certificate issued by NSO
Member’s Marriage Contract, if married, issued by NSO
Certified True Copy of Member’s/Claimant’s Baptismal/Confirmation Certificate
Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) (For Single Only)

Basic Document Requirements

On top of the document requirements above, the following document should come handy:

Duly accomplished Application for Provident Benefits (APB) Claim
Two (2) valid IDs
Updated Service Record (For government employees)
Special Power of Attorney and two (2) valid IDs each of the Principal and Attorney-in-Fact (If member cannot claim personally)

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“Money Matters: Pag-IBIG Fund Provident Savings and Provident Claims” is written by Carlos Velasco.

Joining The Pag-IBIG Overseas Program — Is It Really Worth It?

by Pag-IBIG Financing Admin

Did you know the difference between the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program and the regular Pag-IBIG Program, likewise known as Pag-IBIG I?

Most OFWs assume that since they are based overseas, they should be getting the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, as they are now compelled to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

Well, that’s not really the case.

Let me explain further by citing in part a message sent to us (via an article comment) by a site visitor who is an OFW based in Singapore.

I am an OFW since December 2008, and I stopped my contribution the same date. Last month, October [2011], I started to contribute again in one of your outlets here in Singapore. Since I Don’t know my Pag-ibig account no., they just gave me a new one temporarily. And they said its ok.. and can add up that to my old Pag-ibig account if i will activate the status of my old account…

1. Is it true?

2. How come? like for example if i want to avail a housing loan? you mean i need to wait for me to complete my ofw 24 months contribution?

3. Then hows my 4 years local contribution? is it like forfeited?

Actually I let my father follow up that today in the philippines. then one of the staff said that my local contribution is different from ofw and cannot combine it.. for me to have a housing loan.
what to do.?? please help. It’s so confusing po. thank you admin.

From that letter, let’s discuss the following topics as they relate to the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program and the regular Pag-IBIG membership a.k.a. the Pag-IBIG I.

POP vs Pag-IBIG I – Know the Difference
The past contributions

Let’s elaborate each of these subjects.

The Pag-IBIG Overseas Program vs The Pag-IBIG I – What’s the Difference?

You may not know it yet, but you can contribute to the Pag-IBIG Fund in the following manner:

Pag-IBIG I — This is the regular Pag-IBIG membership. During the inception of the Home Development Mutual Fund, this is the only membership type that’s available. As time passes, the program has grown to offer special service coverage for the Filipino workers based abroad. They rarely call it Pag-IBIG I now, but it got the name because the organization has introduced the Pag-IBIG II program.
Pag-IBIG II — This is a savings program, which is supposedly offering a higher rate on your money compared to the annual dividend earnings of your Pag-IBIG I money. You can only participate with Pag-IBIG II if you are a member of the Pag-IBIG I.
Pag-IBIG Overseas Program — Abbreviated as POP, this program was originally intended for the overseas Filipinos who wanted to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund. This one is different and separate program from Pag-IBIG I.

(Related topic: Please check our previous article, which discusses in some details the POP Program.)

Pag IBIG Overseas program

However, since the passage of the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, where OFWs are already required to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund, this program has been relegated to the side.

Important Tip: OFWs who are not yet members of the Home Development Mutual Fund should choose to enrol in the regular Pag-IBIG Program and not the POP. This is the only kind of membership required of you. With this program, you are already entitled to all of the benefits available to Pag-IBIG Fund members.

The Past Contributions

This scenario is very common: Before going abroad to work as an OFW, most Filipinos are already members of the Pag-IBIG especially those who have work experiences locally here in the Philippines. By the time they go overseas, they lose track of their membership and just forget about the whole thing — no more updated contributions; any existing Multi-Purpose Loan obligation is forgotten, etc.

If this is your case, remember the following:

All your past contributions to the Pag-IBIG Fund will stay there and will continue to accumulate dividend as the time passes, unless you happen to have an MPL Loan which you are not paying anymore.
Non-payment of your MPL puts a lien on your Total Accumulated Value (TAV) – that’s your money, contributions plus dividends. What will happen is that Pag-IBIG will use your TAV to pay for your personal loan. (That’s the reason why you are only granted a percentage of your TAV for your MPL loan.)
You can always activate your regular membership by contributing anew.

If you have some more questions related to this topic, please feel free to use the comment form below. We may have to update this article depending on the questions that we get.

The title of the article has raised this question: Is it really worth joining the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program?

What do you think? You be the judge. Make sure you also read the related articles cited as links on this article. Don’t hesitate to send us your opinions.

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“Joining The Pag-IBIG Overseas Program — Is It Really Worth It?” is written by Carlos Velasco.

Top 5 Things Every OFW Should Know About The New Pag-IBIG Law of 2009

by Pag-IBIG Financing Admin

With the introduction of the Republic Act 9679, otherwise known as the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009 or simply Pag-IBIG Fund Law of 2009, a number of changes have been implemented to the existing rules of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

This article touches those affecting the Overseas Filipino Workers and those things that are most important to them.

1. Mandatory Membership

In the past, membership to the Pag-IBIG Fund by OFW and migrant Filipinos is only voluntary under the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program. But that’s not the case any more since the introduction of the Pag-IBIG Fund Law of 2009, which took effect last January 2010. All Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipino Seafarers are already required to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund. Those who have been to the Office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency will tell you that they were made to pay for Pag-IBIG Fund Membership there. A lot of OFWs are not aware of this, but you who are reading this article should not be surprised any more.

(Please be concerned with your fellow OFW friends and share this article to them.)

2. Membership Application

overseas filipino Instead of catching yourself unprepared for this thing at the POEA Office, it’s best if you are the one to enroll yourself to become a member of the Pag-IBIG Fund. To do this, please visit any of the following offices:

If you are based overseas, please visit the Philippine Consular Office or Philippine Embassy in your host country.
Locally in the Philippines at the following:
- Any Pag-IBIG Fund Branch
- Pag-IBIG Satellite Office at the POEA
For all OFW concerns, don’t forget this office:
Pag-IBIG Fund International Operations Group
6th Floor, Justine Bldg.,
Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

3. Contribution Rate

When it comes to the amount of contribution, Pag-IBIG doesn’t distinguish anymore between a locally based Pag-IBIG Member and that of an OFW Member. They are all under the Regular Pag-IBIG Membership likewise known as the Pag-IBIG I Membership. In other words, the contribution is only P 200 per month. And since there is no employer counter-part for OFW’s, you have to shoulder it all by yourself.

Take note that you may be asked to upgrade your contribution once you are approved a housing loan.

4. About The POP Membership

Some of you may have been a member of the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program (POP) already. Please bear in mind that POP is entirely different from Pag-IBIG I. While POP is optional for OFWs, Pag-IBIG I membership is mandatory since 2010 (refer to #1 above). Since the two programs are separate, your contributions to POP will not be merged with your Pag-IBIG I membership.

If you have been contributing for the POP Program, it would be to your advantage if you continue with it until it reaches maturity period where you are become entitled to withdraw your funds with its TAV.

Take note also that for other POP members, like the migrant Filipinos who are not OFWs, the membership to the Pag-IBIG I is only voluntary

5. Benefits of Pag-IBIG Membership

Basically, there are three benefits that all Pag-IBIG Members are entitled to.

Housing Loan – this is the most popular and the most attractive benefit.
Short Term Loan (Multi-Purpose and Calamity Loans) – a non-collateral loan that you can use for anything.
Provident Savings – Pag-IBIG Fund’s Saving Program for its members.

For a detailed explanation of these benefits, please refer to this article: “Benefits of Becoming A Pag-IBIG Fund Member”.

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“Top 5 Things Every OFW Should Know About The New Pag-IBIG Law of 2009” is written by Carlos Velasco.

Beyond Loans: The Pag-IBIG II Program As Investment And Tax Shelter

by Pag-IBIG Financing Admin

When the Pag-IBIG Fund was first conceived, it was intended to offer the following services and benefits to its members:

Provident Savings
Short Term Loans (Multi-Purpose Loan, Calamity Loans, etc)
Housing Loans

All of these are still available today.

Over time, Pag-IBIG has grown (both in terms of finances and membership) that it introduced other programs and services.

There was the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, which was a special program meant to address the needs of the Overseas Filipino Workers. Then there was the Pag-IBIG II Program, which was not so popular but is nonetheless very beneficial to those who participated in the Program.

The original Pag-IBIG program is now called Pag-IBIG I to distinguish it from the other programs of Pag-IBIG especially the Pag-IBIG II Program.

Pag-IBIG I vs. Pag-IBIG II

One site visitor asked, “Is Pag-IBIG II better than Pag-IBIG I?”

First, please be aware that the two programs are different from each other and as you read along this article we’ll touch base with some of the benefits you can derive by participating in the Pag-IBIG II Program.

The following are the differences of the two:

1. Membership — In order to participate in Pag-IBIG II, the only requirement is that you have to be a member of Pag-IBIG I. There’s no other way. Think of it as placing an investment in the Fund, and it is really that – an investment program. Participating in Pag-IBIG II program is voluntary and is open to all Pag-IBIG I members only.

2. Contributions — With Pag-IBIG I, your regular monthly contribution is P 200. For employees, that is a 50-50 split, with the other half courtesy of the employer. Self-employed and self-paying members have to shoulder the whole amount. With Pag-IBIG II, the monthly investment is at least P 500; remember: no less!

3. Maturity — Pag-IBIG I will mature in 20 years. Pag-IBIG II matures in 5 years, though you have an option of extending it for another 5 years.

4. Dividend Rate — There’s that word again. Remember, your money in Pag-IBIG Fund will not earn an interest, but it will earn a dividend. The difference between the two is the difference between a savings program and an investment program.

The Management of the Pag-IBIG Fund assures those who are participating in Pag-IBIG II that their money will earn dividend that is a bit higher than their earning in Pag-IBIG I. However, there is no pre-stated rate of return, because the amount of dividend has to be decided by the board every first quarter of the year and whether you like it or not this will depend on many things among them is the performance of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

5. Access To Loans — Here is a slight downside of the Pag-IBIG II Program: You can’t loan against it. Remember that when you apply for a Pag-IBIG Multi-Purpose Loan, your loan eligibility depends on the amount of your TAV (contributions + dividend) from the Pag-IBIG Fund. You can’t use Pag-IBIG II in such kind of short-term loan.

[Further reading: The Pag-IBIG II Savings Program — our first article about the Pag-IBIG II Program.]

Think: Investment

You really should think of Pag-IBIG II as an investment program and keep the following points in mind:

higher dividend
shorter maturity term
guaranteed by the government
tax-free
tax shelter

Tax Shelter — Is that a Joke?

Maybe it’s true. The government is joking about the Pag-IBIG II as your tax shelter. But, don’t you think you deserve a tax break from time to time? Thanks to the Pag-IBIG Program, it becomes legally possible to avoid paying a portion of your tax.

Actually, it’s not just the Pag-IBIG II that’s tax exempt, your Pag-IBIG I is tax exempt as well. But since Pag-IBIG I contribution is normally pegged at P 200 per month, that doesn’t have a big impact on your tax due. And since there is no limit on the amount of contribution to the Pag-IBIG II, it could spell a difference on your taxable income.

In general, the simple equation helps to make the point much clearer.

Taxable Income = Basic Pay – [ (Pag-IBIG I) + (Pag-IBIG II) + (SSS) + (Phil Health) ] + …

The Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009 stated in its Rule IX, Section 12:

Pag-IBIG Contributions are Excluded from the Computation of the Gross Income. Pursuant to Section 32 (B)(7)(f) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, Pag-IBIG Contributions are excluded from the computation of the gross income and shall be exempt from taxation.

In other words, one of the ways you can reduce your tax payment is by investing in Pag-IBIG II.

Patriotism aside, remember that tax avoidance is legal while tax evasion is illegal. And you should not confuse the two.

“Beyond Loans: The Pag-IBIG II Program As Investment And Tax Shelter” is written by Carlos Velasco.

Citizenship, Land Ownership and Pag-IBIG Fund Membership

by Pag-IBIG Financing Admin

A good number of our website visitors came from Filipinos based overseas – both OFWs and immigrants. And occasionally, we also have dual-citizenship holders and former Filipinos who are certainly interested in the Pag-IBIG Fund Program. The messages and inquiries that we received from them are as varied as the different cultures they are currently in.

There is one particular question that struck our attention and we want to cover it hear simply because it many of our visitors can relate to this one and we want them to be informed about this once and for all.

The question came from R. Nunez and he said in part…

“I am a dual citizen but wish to retire early in the Philippines(Filipino/American passport holder).Can I be qualified to become a ‘Pagibig Fund’ member?”

And we replied with this:

“Please don’t make it complicated on your part. You can always use a Mortgage Loan from a Bank in your situation. That way, there is no more membership requirements and other complicated matters that go with it.”

“And yes, you are certainly allowed to own a piece of land under the Laws of the Philippines.”

(For the complete series of replies, refer to this link. )

Again, we are citing that particular inquiry because we want to elaborate further and add a few more important information for Dual Citizenship holders just like Mr Nunez and other former Filipinos as well.

Citizenship and Membership To The Pag-IBIG Fund

The right answer to Mr Nunez question is this: Yes, he is qualified to be a member of the Pag-IBIG Fund under the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program. As a matter of fact, The Pag-IBIG Fund stated that “Membership under the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program (POP) shall be open to all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with valid visas or employment contracts. Likewise, it shall be open to Filipino immigrants and to Filipinos naturalized in other countries.”

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
The Home Development Mutual Fund (or simply Pag-IBIG Fund) has changed the rule requiring OFW’s to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund. In other words, the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program is only optional for the OFW’s, because they are now required to become regular members of the Pag-IBIG I.

For more information on the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, please refer to the following links:

Citizenship and Land Ownership

dual passport -- Philippines and England It is a well known fact that land ownership in the Philippines is granted only to Filipino Citizens and Philippine Corporations with at least 60% interest by Filipinos.

Foreign Nationals are definitely not allowed to own. Most of them simply put the Land title in the name of a Filipino whom they can trust such as the spouse. Or it could be that they are on a long term lease-contract with the land owner.

As for the former Filipinos who are already naturalized in other countries, the Law of the Philippines still allows them to own a piece of land, but with a few limitations.

If this describes you, take note of the following restrictions.

Land must be used for residential or business purposes only.
Limitation on Residential land:
1. maximum of 1,000 sq meters of urban land
2. or one (1) hectare of rural land is allowed
Limitation of Land intended for business use:
1. maximum of 5,000 sq meters of urban land
2. or three (3) hectares of rural land
You can only get either urban land or rural land, but not both.
A maximum of two (2) lots not exceeding the maximum limit in total combined area is allowed. Lots must be located in different cities or municipalities.

As for the Dual Citizenship holders (one citizenship being a Filipino) the Law of the Philippines still allows you to own land in your name just like any Filipino National.

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Citizenship, Land Ownership and Pag-IBIG Fund Membership is written by Carlos Velasco.

Online Concerns: Housing Loan Applications, Membership Status And Contributions Inquiry, Etc.

by Pag-IBIG Financing Admin

Most visitors coming to this website are Overseas Filipino Workers based from different places abroad. And many of them are asking about the online facilities of the Pag-IBIG Fund (the official website is at http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph) so they can do some transactions anywhere they are comfortable. Some of the most common questions we encounter are listed below.

I want to become a member of the Pag-IBIG Fund. Can I do it online? Do you have an online form that I can fill up and send back to you?
Can I apply for A Housing Loan Online?
May I request for my Pag-IBIG ID Number? Please send it through email.
How will I know about my past contributions?
Can I send my payments (contributions/amortizations) online?

Of course these are valid concerns as legitimate members of the Pag-IBIG Fund.

In this article, we’ll address each of these questions.

#1. Membership Application: I want to become a member of the Pag-IBIG Fund. Can I do it online? Do you have an online form that I can fill up and send back to you?

Yes, this is possible. Simply download Member’s Data Form. Print two copies and send back to the Pag-IBIG Fund.

While doing that is very convenient, the good ole way of actually handing it to the office is still best way to do it. That way, you get someone to give you an acknowledgment that your form has been received.

The most ideal way of doing it should be to just fill-up and online form — as opposed to downloading it — and waiting for a verification via email. Unfortunately, this one doesn’t exist yet. So, let’s make the best use of this one.