26 September 2014 - Filipinos residing in Germany now have the opportunity to prepare for their future retirement in the Philippines by availing of the Pag-IBIG Fund’s savings system, allowing them to acquire their own homes through an affordable and flexible home financing program.
This was the message relayed by Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pag-IBIG Fund, at the regular “Kapihan sa Pasaguan” hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Berlin on September 9. Pag-IBIG Fund officials were in Germany to meet the Filipino community in Berlin and to attend the 29th International Union for Housing Finance World Congress in Munich. While in Europe, they also were able to meet the Filipino communities in Budapest, Hungary and Geneva, Switzerland.
The Pag-IBIG Fund was established as an institution in 1981, and is also known as the Home Development Mutual Fund, considered as the Philippines’ national savings program and provider of housing loans for Filipino workers.
In her presentation, Atty. Berberabe noted that with the implementation in January 2010 of Republic Act 9679 (also known as the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009), mandatory Fund coverage has been expanded to include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Voluntary membership is now also available to all Filipino immigrants, Filipinos naturalized in other countries, and permanent Filipino residents abroad. Atty. Berberabe further noted that as of Dec 2013, Fund membership stood at 13.5 million, of which 3.3 million or 24% are OFWs/Overseas Filipinos.
Overseas Filipinos who opt to become Pag-IBIG Fund members may avail of various services from the HDMF, which include enrollment in a government-guaranteed savings program with an average of 4% annual dividend rate as well as easy-access to short-term loans and housing loan benefits. To effectively reach out to Filipinos worldwide, Pag-IBIG Fund has enhanced its e-services to include online membership registration, savings verification and online payment via credit card or Pay Pilipinas. Likewise, the Fund has forged and implemented collection servicing agreements with over 300 banks and remittance companies worldwide.
For more information, interested parties may contact Pag-IBIG Fund through the following channels:
Website : http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph
Customer service hotline : 00-632-724-424
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Facebook account : https//www.facebook.com/PagIBIGFundHDMF
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Information kits on how to be a member may be availed at the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin. Filipinos residing abroad may also learn more about the Pag-IBIG Fund and the host of services and benefits it offers by accessing the following link: http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/faq.aspx . END