PIA Press Release Monday, January 16, 2012 Pag-IBIG to intensify enforcement of Pag-Ibig Fund Law of 2009LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- Pag-IBIG Lucena City branch has announced that it will intensify its efforts to enforce the mandatory provision of Republic Act 9679, popularly known as Pag-Ibig Fund Law of 2009. Norma O. Cayabyab, division chief III and Michael O. Regaza, members services officer IV of marketing and enforcement division of Pag-IBIG Lucena City branch said under the home development mutual fund law of 2009, membership in Pag-IBIG fund is mandatory for all employers and employees covered and should be covered by the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (SSS). Meanwhile, Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Darlene Marie B. Berberabe said by the end of 2011, there are still 250,000 employers around the country who are not registered with the fund. “ These employers are depriving their personnel of the benefits of membership in the fund-benefits which include long term savings with better than usual earnings, access to housing finance, and easy access to short-term cash loans in times of need, Berberabe added. To help enforce the law, Pag-IBIG has forged agreements with local government units which provides for making Pag-IBIG registration a pre-requisite to securing or renewing a business permit. “We, however, recognize that some employers are unable to register with the fund due to the accumulation of penalties on uncollected and unremitted contributions” the Pag-IBIG Chief Executive added.”Thus, Pag-IBIG is implementing a penalty condonation program for unregistered or delinquent employers beginning January 2 until June 30, 2012 only." Since the program will only run for a limited period, Berberabe encourages employers who have yet register with the fund to take advantage of this program. “After June 30, we have no other recourse but to file cases against unregistered employers as part of the fund’s intensified membership enforcement and collection campaign”, the chief executive officer cautioned. For more information on the Pag-IBIG penalty condonation program for unregistered or delinquent employers, companies may call hotline 7244244 (for Metro Manila) or get in touch with the Pag-IBIG branch office nearest them. They may also email the secretariat aemployerpencon@pagibigfund.gov.ph (Ruel M. Orinday-PIA, Quezon with report from Pag-IBIG Lucena City branch) |