ECOP Webinar Series

“Pag-IBIG’s Services and Assistance in the Time of a Public Health Emergency”
25 March 2020, 2:00PM – 4:00PM

 

The coronavirus pandemic has caught the entire world by surprise as lockdowns were forced to be implemented by national governments globally as an effort to contain the disease and to fight against its spread. As a result, a disruptive economic impact has continued to threaten all of the countries worldwide, and economists fear that the outbreak could trigger another recession.

In the Philippines, President Duterte has recently extended the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon to April 30 to curb the spread of the virus. To date, more and more local government units outside Luzon have extended their enhanced community quarantine period. To help alleviate the struggles of Filipinos who need help the most, the government has so far allotted 100 Billion Pesos social amelioration aid for 18 million low income families and has increased subsidy for beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program. Aside from the CCT program, there are other numerous government agencies that provide for programs to help the people in this very difficult and uncertain time.  One of which is the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund.

For this reason, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) conducted a webinar last 25 March entitled “Pag-IBIG’s Services and Assistance in the Time of a Public Health Emergency” as an effort to provide information and understanding to its members concerning loan applications, moratoriums, subsidies, waiving of fees, and deferment of deadlines, among others. In short, the webinar was to assist qualified workers on issues surrounding Pag-IBIG and/or Pag-IBIG programs during this COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Flash Survey Results:

• To provide a situational context on how the COVID-19 pandemic affects workers, a survey via Mentimeter was conducted with the following questions:
  • • What is the profile of participants in this webinar? (Out of the 439 respondents, 21% answered that they are business owner/employer; 77% answered that they are currently employed; 2% answered that they are self-employed)
    • Are you a Pag-IBIG Member? (Out of the 531 respondents, 99% answered yes; 1% answered no)
    • What is the current status of your company? (Out of the 583 respondents, they answered: Total shutdown/stop operations – 16%; Slowdown of operations/on skeletal force – 37%; Business as usual/normal operations – 2%; Everyone on WFH arrangement – 45%)
    • Have you ever applied for a loan at Pag-IBIG? (Out of the 607 respondents, they answered: Yes, in the past – 23%; Yes, I have an on-going loan – 38%; No, but I am planning to – 20%; No – 20%)
    • What type of Pag-IBIG loan have you applied for in the past? (Out of the 477 respondents, they answered: Multi-purpose loan – 75%; Calamity loan – 10%; housing loan – 15%)

 

 

Resource Persons:

Mr. Amado Dizon
Senior Vice-President for Member Services Sector
Pag-IBIG Fund

 

Mr. Fermin Sta. Teresa
Senior Vice-President for Business Development Sector
Pag-IBIG Fund

 

 

Highlights of the Presentation:

 

FAQs on the e-mail filing of Pag-IBIG Fund Multi-Purpose Loan and Calamity Loan for Members Affected by the COVID-19 Crisis:

• What is the Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) and Calamity Loan (CL) e-mail filing of Pag-IBIG Fund?
  • • • E-mail filing is the safest channel to apply for Pag-IBIG Fund MPL and CL during the COVID-19 pandemic
• What is the process of e-mail filing?

1. 1. 1. • Employee X should download MPL/CL application form from Pag-IBIG Fund website, print the form, write down information asked, sign. Seek the signature of two (2) witnesses;
         • Scan or take a photo of the application form and send it to his employer (HR/Authorized Representative). The company representative should print the form, sign the Application Agreement portion, and then send it back to employee X through e-mail;
         • Employee X should scan or take a photo of his valid ID together with his valid LBP/DBP/UCPB Cashcard or Loyalty Card Plus (if Loyalty Card Plus, please send back and front of card);
         • Employee X should send the loan application that has his signature, signature of his employer, valid ID and cashcard to the specified e-mail address of Pag-IBIG Fund based on the main office of his employer; or
         • Employer may send the e-mail filing of employee X’s application form and other documentary requirements

 

• What if applicant does not have access to a printer or scanner?

1. 1. 1. • Through a smartphone or computer, fill the MPL/CL Fillable Application form that can be downloaded through the Pag-IBIG Fund website;
         • Save the complete form (no need to print);
         • Send form to company HR or authorized representative/Fund Coordinator, together with a photo of valid id and Cashcard/Loyalty Card Plus (if Loyalty Card Plus, please send back and front of card;
         • In this process, company HR/authorized representative is the only one who can send the application via e-mail. The company also needs to provide for a certification as proof that the applicant is their employee.

 

• Why is there a need for the company to sign or certify the loan application?
  • • • This is one way of Pag-IBIG Fund to protect the benefits of its members and ensure that the loan application is legitimate. This is also a way to for applicant’s employer certify the capacity of applicant to pay his Pag-IBIG Fund MPL or CL.

 

• Is submitting a payslip a requirement?
  • • • A payslip is no longer a requirement during this particular situation.

• Am I eligible to apply for Pag-IBIG Fund MPL?
  • • • To be eligible to apply, you should have at least 24 monthly savings (contributions). Continuous payment of contribution in the past is irrelevant, what is important is that there is a payment of contribution made during the last 6 months.

• How much can I loan under Pag-IBIG Fund MPL?
  • • • You can loan up to 80% of your total contribution under your Pag-IBIG Regular Savings

 

• Am I also eligible to apply for Pag-IBIG Fund Calamity Loan?
  • • • If you are living or working in an area placed under ECQ, with at least 24 monthly savings (contributions), then you are eligible to apply. Continuous payment of contribution in the past is irrelevant, what is important is that there is a payment of contribution made during the last 6 months.

 

• How much can I loan under Pag-IBIG Fund Calamity Loan?
  • • • You can loan up to 80% of your total contribution under your Pag-IBIG Regular Savings

 

• I still have an existing loan, am I still eligible for Calamity Loan?
  • • • Yes, provided that you are actively paying for your MPL/Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, before the implementation of ECQ.

The difference between 80% of your total savings and MPL balance will be the amount that you can loan.

 

• I still have an existing MPL, am I still eligible for another MPL?
  • • • Yes, provided that you are actively paying for your MPL/Pag-IBIG Housing Loan, before the implementation of ECQ.

What Pag-IBIG Fund will do is that it will deduct the amount of your prior loan from the loan that you are applying for.

 

• How long does it take before an application may be approved?
  • • • Once Pag-IBIG Fund receives your application from you or your employer, together with the complete requirements, applicant can receive his loan within 7 – 20 0days

 

• What is the status of my loan application that I sent before the ECQ?
  • • Pag-IBIG Fund continuously processes all pending applications it has received before the implementation of ECQ.

 

• How will I know if my loan application has been approved?
  • • Applicant will receive a text message from Pag-IBG Fund indicating that the loan application has been approved and credited to applicant’s Loyalty Card Plus/LBP, DBP, or UCPB cashcard.

 

3-month moratorium offer of Pag-IBIG Fund on Loan Payments Covering March 16 – June 15, 2020.

• Moratorium is available for member-borrowers residing in NCR and Luzon which was put under an Enhanced Community Quarantine. This is to help members partly alleviate their debt burden, especially those who are affected by this crisis.
• The moratorium allows for the freezing of payments for Multi-Purpose Loan and Housing Loan of Pag-IBIG Fund members residing in NCR or Luzon. Resumption of payment would be after the lifting of the 3-month moratorium.
• For members in Visayas or Mindanao, they may also avail of the moratorium offer if their area will be declared under quarantine either by the national government or their local government unit.
• To qualify for the moratorium, an interested member should signify his intent, especially for those with housing loans.
• Members may file online for the 3-month moratorium on Pag-IBIG Fund Loan via the Virtual Pag-IBIG website. Here are the steps:
  • • • Go to Virtual Pag-IBIG website;
      • Enter loan and personal details, give active Philippine mobile number to receive One-Time-Pin (OTP)
      • Enter the given OTP and click submit to receive your reference number.

Question and Answer Portion:

 

1. How much is the loanable amount?

• • 80% of your total contribution. Pag-IBIG encourages its members to make use of the virtual Pag-IBIG Fund application. There, a member can view his total contribution and how much he can loan. If not, please contact Pag-IBIG Fund directly.

 

2. How do we apply for loan via online platform?

• • Please visit the Pag-IBG Fund website and download the application form for the MPL/calamity loan. You may also proceed to this link: https://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/forms_provident.html#stl

 

3. Is there a specific format for certification from employer?

• • The employer certification form is downloadable through the Pag-IBIG website

https://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/forms_provident.html#stl

 

4. Do employers need to sign the STL form?

• • For the first option, the employer has to sign the form
  • For the second option (those who have no printer/scanner), the employer does not have to sign. However, the employer should be able to fulfill the condition that he will provide for a certification for the loan application. Under this option, the employer should be the one to send the online application via email using the employer’s official email account.

 

5. Is e-signature allowed?

• • Yes

 

6. Is it okay to send the application form in piece e-mail due to e-mail capacity limitation?

• • Pag-IBIG will wait for the other documents to process it altogether completely.

 

7. Is it possible that the employer will be the one to apply for calamity loan of its employees?

• • Pag-IBIG is exploring that arrangement, considering if it would be possible. But as of now, application can only be done individually.

 

8. If a member has an existing loan, can he still avail for the calamity loan?

• • Yes, a member may still avail for calamity loan provided that he has already paid at least 6 months of his existing loan.

 

9. Can newly hired employees whose premium contributions are still subject for consolidation avail Calamity Loan?

• • If they worked for a different employer previously and has prior contributions, Pag-IBIG will consolidate once a request for consolidation is received from the member. As long as the member has at least 24 months’ contributions, actively pays his contributions, and a valid cash card/loyalty plus card, then yes, he is eligible.

 

10. Can an employee who resigned last February still apply for calamity loan?

• • No

 

11. To which official email address do we send the forms?

• • Below is the list of designated e-mail address per area and the branches covered:

Area	Branches Covered	Designated E-mail Address
NCR North	·     GMA Kamuning ·     Quezon Ave. ·     Commonwealth Ave. ·     Cubao ·     Marikin ·     Caloocan-EDSA ·     Valenzuela ·     NCR East	[email protected]
NCR East	·     Pasig ·     Mandaluyong-Shaw Zentrum ·     Antipolo
NCR South	·     Makati-Buendia I ·     Binan ·     Makati-Ayala Ave. ·     Makati-Buendia II ·     Makati-JP Rizal ·     Taguig (Gate 3 Plaza) ·     Guadalupe-EDSA ·     Muntinlupa ·     SM Aura	[email protected]
NCR West	·     Intramuros ·     Sta. Mesa ·     Binondo ·     Pasay ·     Las Pinas (Robinsons Place) ·     Paranaque
Cavite	·     Imus ·     Rosario ·     Dasmarinas
Ilocos Region	·     La Union ·     Laoag ·     Vigan ·     Dagupan Urdaneta ·     Baguio	[email protected]
Cagayan Valley Region	·     Tuguegarao ·     Solano ·     Cauayan	[email protected]
Central Luzon I	·     San Fernando ·     Tarlac ·     Angeles ·     SBMA ·     Balanga	[email protected]
Central Luzon II	·     Malolos Baliwag ·     Cabanatuan ·     Meycauayan
Southern Tagalog Region	·     Lucena ·     Batangas ·     Lipa ·     Calamba ·     San Pablo ·     Sta. Rosa ·     Calapan ·     Palawan	[email protected]
Bicol Region	·     Legazpi ·     Naga	[email protected]
South Central Visayas	·     Cebu-Ayala ·     Dumaguete ·     Talisay ·     Toledo ·     Cebu-Colon	[email protected]
North Central and Eastern Visayas	·     Mandaue ·     Danao ·     Mactan ·     Tagbilaran ·     Tacloban ·     Calbayog ·     Ormoc
Western Visayas	·     Iloilo-Manduriao ·     Iloilo-Molo ·     Kalibo ·     San Jose de Buenavista ·     Roxas ·     Bacolod ·     Kabankalan ·     Sagay	[email protected]
Northern Mindanao	·     CDO-Lapasan ·     CDO-Carmen ·     Valencia ·     Butuan ·     San Francisco ·     Surigao ·     Iligan	[email protected]
Western Mindanao	·     Zamboanga ·     Dipolog ·     Pagadian	[email protected]
Southern Mindanao	·     Davao-Bajada ·     Davao-Matina ·     Davao-Lanang ·     Digos ·     Tagum ·     Panabo	[email protected]
South-Western Mindanao	·     General Santos ·     Polomolok ·     Koronadal ·     Kidapawan ·     Cotabato

 

11. Can an authorized representative use personal e-mail to submit the loan applications of its employees?

• • No, it has to be the official e-mail address of the employer.

 

12. Upon sending the application for loan, will there be an acknowledgement reply coming from Pag-IBIG Fund?

• • Yes, either a text message or e-mail should be received.

 

13. How long is the process of calamity loan application?

• • The process time will take 7 to 20 days.

14. Until when can the Calamity Loan be filed?

• • Up to 90 days within the declaration of ECQ

 

15. How to withdraw using the Loyalty Card Plus?

• • The Loyalty Card Plus has a built-in chip. Like an ordinary ATM card, member can go to any ATM and withdraw the money once it has been credited.

 

16. How can those without a Loyalty Plus Card apply for the calamity loan?

• • There are two options for the member to be able to claim loan:
    • • Existing and valid LBP/UCPB/DBP cash card
      • Loyalty Card Plus

 

17. What if a member wants to avail loan but has no cash card?

• • Pag-IBIG is still exploring other means to disburse the money aside from cash card. But as of now, only those with cash cards or loyalty cards can avail.

 

18. How can we apply for a cash card?

• • Loyalty Card Plus – a member can avail this card by going to any Pag-IBIG Fund branch. There are kiosks powered by the AUB for processing. Member can get the card right after application
  • Cash Card – this is only an option given to members

 

19. What if a member forgot his pincode?

• • Contact the bank branch which issued your cash card.

 

20. Is it true that Pag-IBIG can only process the receive loan applications after the end of the ECQ?

• • No, this is why the Loyalty Card Plus is important. Through that card, Pag-IBIG can immediately credit the loan immediately after approval.

 

21. Are areas not declared under quarantine also covered in this calamity loan?

• • Pag-IBIG is still considering on whether or not to also include other areas under quarantine, aside from NCR and Luzon. As of now, they can apply for a Multi-Purpose Loan.

 

22. What if employer is scheduled to request for a computation for the months that it was not able to pay premium contributions for its employees, but was not able to do so due to the lockdown? How can the employer request for a computation and pay it so that its employees may be able to apply for loan?

• • The employer can still request through our communication platforms. An email can be sent to us requesting for the computation. Once computed, it will be sent to the employer.

 

23. What is the difference between Calamity Loan and Multi-Purpose Loan? Which one is better to apply in this time of COVID-19?

• • Member can apply for calamity loan if member is a resident of an area declared under ECQ
  • If member is not a resident of an area under ECQ, he can avail a Multi-Purpose Loan

 

24. Is the moratorium automatically applied?

• • The moratorium is not automatic. Members should advise Pag-IBIG if they opt to avail of the moratorium through the Pag-IBIG online facility.

 

26. How will we know if our 3-month moratorium application is received or approved?

• • An e-mail or message will be sent out by Pag-IBIG.

 

26. Can we stop the payroll deduction for HDMF loan upon application for the loan moratorium without the approval from HDMF?

• • No, there should be an approval coming from Pag-IBIG Fund before the employer can stop payroll deduction for HDMF loan.

 

27. Are the checks issued to Pag-IBIG Collection Agents also covered by the moratorium?

• • No, all check deposits are frozen. It will be deposited once the 3-month moratorium is over.

 

28. Are other loans also included in the 3-month moratorium?

• • No, only short-term loans

 

29. What is the HR/Payroll’s role when an employee applies for a moratorium?

• • As far as STL is concerned, once application is approved, employee has to inform HR personnel so that deduction will be stopped.

 

30. After the moratorium, will the pending payments be debited right away or will there be an adjustment period?

• • If found necessary, the payment period will be moved. Members will be given the option to accelerate payments instead of waiting for the term to fully settle their accounts

 

31. Does it mean that members have to pay a lump sum in July, after the 3-month moratorium?

• • No, payment will not be in lump sum. With the 3-month moratorium, the existing term of payment of a member will be extended for another 3 months.

 

32. Will there be a deadline for the employee’s salary loan?

• • There is a deadline, every 15^th day of the month. But we are looking at the moratorium for possible adjustments.

 

33. With the signing of R.A. No. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act), will there be changes in the procedures to avail the moratorium for loans and premium contributions? Will it now be available for all and no need to apply?

• • The moratorium will be implemented in the same manner. It is not automatic; the company will have to apply to be able to avail the 3-month loan moratorium.

 

34. Will the March deadline be extended for employers who still pay their employees’ monthly contribution?

• • There will be a delay. We are discussing if we can delay the penalties.

 

35. Can premium contributions be paid through a bank?

• • First of all, the employer should be enrolled in a Pag-IBIG Fund partner bank. Payments of premium contributions can be coursed through the said partner bank. However, deadlines are still strictly implemented. If premium contributions were paid late due to ECQ, pay it together with a proof of ECQ memo.

 

36. What will happen to the premium contributions of members (i.e. for March, April, and May)?

• • It should be paid. We are considering the delay in times like this; we are looking at the possibility of waiving the penalties.

 

37. Will there be a penalty if premium contributions were paid late?

• • As of now, yes. We are still exploring for options due to ECQ. Pag-IBIG still have to think about what to do about penalties.

 

38. Does the company still need to pay for contributions even if it has shut down its operation due to the ECQ?

• • If the company is in a “no work, no pay” scheme, there is no need to pay contributions for month/s that it has shut down its operation.

 

39. What if the employer stopped payroll deduction for HDMF loan for his employees this March 30 payroll, but there has already been a deduction during March 15 period (half amount), can it still be remitted?

• • No, the amount should be in whole to be remitted.

 

40. What will be the situation for married women who do not have an ID with married name yet? What if the name on their cash card is still their maiden name?

• • As far as Pag-IBIG is concerned, the member should update her information in Pag-IBIG. Otherwise, Pag-IBIG will depend on the recorded data regarding that person. If the name of a member does not match with that of the Pag-IBIG record, that is another person.

 

41. Can the employer loan from Pag-IBIG to be used as payment for employees’ 13^th month pay?

• • No, there are currently no loan facility for employers

 

 

Click here to watch the ECOP Webinar on Pag-IBIG’s Services and Assistance