23 September 2014 - Filipino community leaders and members in the Cantons of Geneva and Vaud lauded the efforts of the Philippine government in bringing its services closer to the public and continually improving the social protection program for overseas Filipinos and their families.
This is what the Filipino community expressed during the "Mag-Impok at Magkabahay: A Pag-IBIG Fund Forum for Filipinos in Geneva" which was held on September 14 at the Saint-Nicolas de Flue Center, Geneva.
The forum was organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Geneva and the Office of the Labor Attache in cooperation with Ugnayang Bayan (a Filipino community umbrella organization), as part of its community outreach services and in support of Pag-IBIG Fund's promotional efforts for overseas Filipinos in Europe.
Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe, the Chief Executive Officer and President of Pag-IBIG, personally made the presentation during the event, highlighting that Pag-IBIG fund savings yield four times higher than bank rates and that OFW members can optimize their benefits by saving more than the minimum monthly contribution mandated by law.
She reported that the Pag-IBIG Fund, now with over 14 million members, has expanded its membership coverage to include those in the non-formal sector.
Pag-IBIG also doubled the maximum home loan amount, reduced the interest rates, and added on-line facilities to make application, registration and payment transactions more convenient to all its members, particularly those working overseas.
An open forum followed after the presentation and provided an opportunity for an exchange of experiences and concerns among the attendees on the Pag-IBIG program.
On behalf of the Filipino community, Atty. Manuel Goyena, President of Ugnayang Bayan, expressed his appreciation to the Philippine Consulate General and to Pag-IBIG for reaching out to the Filipino community through continuing information services and consular activities. He welcomed the inclusive approach to social protection coverage and intensified efforts of the government to address their concerns.
Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, encouraged the Filipino community to actively participate in government programs, including Pag-IBIG, citing its robust savings fund, expanded housing loan program, and increased benefits for its members.
Ambassador Rebong also reaffirmed the commitment of the government to bring on-site services closer to overseas Filipino communities and making them more responsive to their needs.
She reiterated that the Consulate General in Geneva is accessible to Filipinos 24/7 through its hotline and website-based information, and encouraged their continued involvement in community activities. She also encouraged the attendees to register for the overseas voting.
As part of its continuing efforts to bring the services closer to Filipinos in Geneva and Vaud, the Consulate will conduct a consular outreach in Vaud on September 20, a Financial Education Forum on October 5, and an open house consular service on October 26 (Sunday) to enable Filipinos who could not avail themselves of consular service during workdays.
For more information on savings and housing programs for Pag-IBIG members, Filipinos in Geneva and Vaud may visit Pag-IBIG’s website at www.pagibigfund.gov.ph.
Filipinos in Geneva and Vaud may also contact the Consulate General at 0227161930 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information about its upcoming activities and for other consular-related inquiries. END