PAG-IBIG Fund has financed socialized housing loans of 16,975 members belonging to the minimum-wage and low-income sectors in 2020 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Socialized housing loans represented 27 percent of the 63,750 units financed by the agency, and amounted to P7.18 billion out of the P63.75 billion in total housing loans it released last year.
“Pag-Ibig Fund’s Affordable Housing Loan Program offers the lowest rate and longest term for minimum and low-wage workers. Even as the pandemic posed numerous challenges last year, we were still able to provide many of our workers belonging to this sector the means to acquire their own homes, under the most affordable terms,” said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, chairman of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-Ibig Fund Board of Trustees.
Pag-Ibig Fund’s Affordable Housing Program offers a subsidized rate of three percent per annum for members earning not more than P15,000 per month within the National Capital Region, and not more than P12,000 per month for members outside of the National Capital Region, who will buy socialized housing units.
Under the program, members can borrow up to P580,000 to buy socialized houses, or up to P750,000 for socialized condominium units, at three percent per annum, a special rate provided to minimum and low-wage workers since May 2017.
The loan program also features a 100 percent loan-to-value ratio allowing borrowers to enjoy equity-free purchase of housing units.
According to Pag-Ibig Fund chief executive officer Acmad Rizaldy Moti, the agency is able to keep offering the lowest interest rate in the market because of its tax-exempt status provided under Republic Act 9679. (PR)