Pag-ibig official asks developers to offer packages to helpers

AS the Domestic Workers Act or Republic Act 10361 takes effect, the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig) hopes developers will also start constructing projects that household helpers will be able to afford.

Pag-ibig Visayas Vice President Victoria dela Peña noted that for most household helpers, even socialized housing projects are too expensive.

A P400,000 unit could have a monthly amortization of P2,100, which is the entire salary of some and more than half of most of these workers.

Expensive

Dela Peña admitted that developers find it a challenge to offer cheap housing because property in this area is expensive.

However, she is glad to see many new members from this segment. She added that even if they don’t find enough housing projects for household helpers, they can avail themselves of smaller loans from Pag-ibig such as multi-purpose and calamity loans.

Dela Peña added that some employers do not mind shouldering the added expenses, saying these are minimal and help their own helpers to save.

To encourage the public to adhere to the law, dela Peña said Pagibig employees were told to be the first to make their household helpers members and pay contributions to Pagibig and other government agencies.

Aside from household helpers, dela Peña is thinking about approaching big business employers to provide their employees with housing.

With many big companies in Cebu, dela Peña said it would serve businesses if their employees no longer have to be absent to process their housing loans.

Reason to stay

She suggested that employers take care of documentation, processing and salary deduction for the amortizations and find a developer that can come up with housing packages to match their needs. She also said it would give them a reason to stay in the company.

Dela Peña believes such a service could be extended by local government units and government agencies to their employees and cooperatives to their members, which would bring Pagibig services closer to members.

Among other things she is planning for the Visayas is to have a savings program for children and graduating students, who will soon join the workforce to encourage them to handle finances better. These ideas, however, are still in the planning stages, but she hopes such programs would be implemented to educate them on Pag-ibig services.