Binay: Broadcasters to have own homes

ANGELES CITY -- Broadcasters will have more good news to relay after they get their own houses.

This was the statement of Vice President Jejomar Binay after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pag-Ibig Fund and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Tuesday night.

"Malamang ay dadami na ang masasayang ulat ng mga broadcaster nating kasamahan kapag nagkaroon na sila ng sariling bahay," Binay, chair of the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said during the signing.

Binay added that he was aware of the plight of many broadcasters and journalists who do not have their own homes. "It is for this reason that I instructed Pag-Ibig to explore a partnership with KBP to help address some of your members’ housing needs. I understand that the Pag-Ibig Home Lending Programs have already been presented to you in one of the meetings between KBP and Pag-Ibig regarding the matter."

"I have been regularly apprised of the developments of your meetings. In fact, I have been informed of the proposal to implement a housing project called 'Broadcaster’s Village," said Binay.

While the proposal for the "Broadcaster's Village" was a good long-term project, said Binay, he also discussed with Pag-Ibig President Darlene Berberabe the need for more immediate measures to provide houses.

"And we can definitely do that through Pag-Ibig’s Home Matching Program. For example, if members of one KBP chapter wish to buy housing units in a particular area, the Business Development Sector of Pag-Ibig will coordinate with our partner-developers that have existing projects in that location so we can find available units that matches their needs and capacity to pay.”

“The acquisition of these housing units will be through Pag-Ibig housing loan. And as a value-added service, the Business Development Sector may even work out for discounts from our accredited developers," the Vice President said.

He added that such a scheme would be a win-win situation for the developers, Pag-Ibig, and the members themselves.

"The Home Matching Program can also be done through Pag-Ibig's inventory of acquired properties. It actually works in a simple way. A Pag-Ibig accredited contractor renovates the acquired property chosen by the borrower to make it move-in ready. Once it is done, the borrower simply moves in hassle-free," he also said.

Binay also guaranteed that housing units acquired under this scheme is affordable.

According to Binay, 96 percent of Pag-Ibig's acquired properties inventory have a price range of P172,000 to P737,000. The lowest monthly amortization rate is P1,501.

"Pag-IBIG has about 72,000 acquired properties located in different areas across the country. While not all of these are ready for disposition, I can assure you that there are enough units in our inventory to choose from. In the National Capital Region alone, 21,000 units are available for disposition," he said.

Binay also related the success of members of transport groups that also entered into an agreement with Pag-IBIG in 2011.

"Halimbawa po, yung isang miyembro ng asosasyon ng drayber ng UV Express na dating nangungupahan ng P2,000 kada buwan, ngayon po ay may sariling bahay na at hinuhulugan niya ito ng P2,500 kada buwan, hindi malayo doon sa binabayaran niya noong nangungupahan pa sila ng kanyang pamilya," Binay said.

Binay also revealed that there is an existing program for minimum-wage earners where they can avail of a loan from P450,000-P750,000, with interest rates ranging from as low as 4.5 percent to 6.5 percent, depending on the income of the borrower.

“Para naman po sa gusto ng malaking bahay, nagpapautang po ang Pag-Ibig ng hanggang P6-million basta lamang matugunan ng isang qualified borrower ang lahat ng kinakailangan. Market competitive rin ang interest rates namin dito dahil 6.985 percent lang ang pinakamababang interes para sa three-year fixed pricing period," he added.

Binay added that the agency has also partnered with different sectors such as transport groups, employers, and local government units for the housing needs of their beneficiaries.

"We acknowledge that the need for housing is not only confined to the informal settlers – the reason we introduced and implemented innovative programs that cut across all sectors of our society," said the Vice President.

"At ngayon po, hindi na naghihintay ang Pag-Ibig na may lumapit sa aming tanggapan para magtanong patungkol sa mga programang pabahay. Kapag nalaman namin na may pangangailangan sa pabahay ang isang grupo, kami na mismo ang nakikipag-ugnayan sa kanila," Binay also said.

Under the MOU, Pag-Ibig will provide KBP with available corporate-wide housing inventories on a regular basis, which will serve as ready inventories for KBP Member Network-employees.

It will also provide housing loan counseling to prospective KBP Member Network-employee borrowers and assist in the initial housing loan documentation.

As well, it will approve housing loan applications of KBP Member Network-employees qualified under existing Pag-Ibig Fund policies and guidelines and enter into a Collection Servicing Agreement between Pag-IBIG Fund and KBP Member Networks for the collection of the monthly amortization and payment of loan of the beneficiaries.

It will also provide the KBP with other home financing schemes subject to the existing guidelines of Pag-Ibig Fund.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph