ShareThisJoining The Pag-IBIG Overseas Program — Is It Really Worth It?
Did you know the difference between the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program and the regular Pag-IBIG Program, likewise known as Pag-IBIG I?
Most OFWs assume that since they are based overseas, they should be getting the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, as they are now compelled to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund.
Well, that’s not really the case.
Let me explain further by citing in part a message sent to us (via an article comment) by a site visitor who is an OFW based in Singapore.
I am an OFW since December 2008, and I stopped my contribution the same date. Last month, October [2011], I started to contribute again in one of your outlets here in Singapore. Since I Don’t know my Pag-ibig account no., they just gave me a new one temporarily. And they said its ok.. and can add up that to my old Pag-ibig account if i will activate the status of my old account…
1. Is it true?
2. How come? like for example if i want to avail a housing loan? you mean i need to wait for me to complete my ofw 24 months contribution?
3. Then hows my 4 years local contribution? is it like forfeited?
Actually I let my father follow up that today in the philippines. then one of the staff said that my local contribution is different from ofw and cannot combine it.. for me to have a housing loan.
what to do.?? please help. It’s so confusing po. thank you admin.
From that letter, let’s discuss the following topics as they relate to the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program and the regular Pag-IBIG membership a.k.a. the Pag-IBIG I.
- POP vs Pag-IBIG I – Know the Difference
- The past contributions
Let’s elaborate each of these subjects.
The Pag-IBIG Overseas Program vs The Pag-IBIG I – What’s the Difference?
You may not know it yet, but you can contribute to the Pag-IBIG Fund in the following manner:
- Pag-IBIG I — This is the regular Pag-IBIG membership. During the inception of the Home Development Mutual Fund, this is the only membership type that’s available. As time passes, the program has grown to offer special service coverage for the Filipino workers based abroad. They rarely call it Pag-IBIG I now, but it got the name because the organization has introduced the Pag-IBIG II program.
- Pag-IBIG II — This is a savings program, which is supposedly offering a higher rate on your money compared to the annual dividend earnings of your Pag-IBIG I money. You can only participate with Pag-IBIG II if you are a member of the Pag-IBIG I.
- Pag-IBIG Overseas Program — Abbreviated as POP, this program was originally intended for the overseas Filipinos who wanted to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund. This one is different and separate program from Pag-IBIG I.
(Related topic: Please check our previous article, which discusses in some details the POP Program.)
However, since the passage of the Home Development Mutual Fund Law of 2009, where OFWs are already required to become members of the Pag-IBIG Fund, this program has been relegated to the side.
Important Tip: OFWs who are not yet members of the Home Development Mutual Fund should choose to enrol in the regular Pag-IBIG Program and not the POP. This is the only kind of membership required of you. With this program, you are already entitled to all of the benefits available to Pag-IBIG Fund members.
The Past Contributions
This scenario is very common: Before going abroad to work as an OFW, most Filipinos are already members of the Pag-IBIG especially those who have work experiences locally here in the Philippines. By the time they go overseas, they lose track of their membership and just forget about the whole thing — no more updated contributions; any existing Multi-Purpose Loan obligation is forgotten, etc.
If this is your case, remember the following:
- All your past contributions to the Pag-IBIG Fund will stay there and will continue to accumulate dividend as the time passes, unless you happen to have an MPL Loan which you are not paying anymore.
- Non-payment of your MPL puts a lien on your Total Accumulated Value (TAV) – that’s your money, contributions plus dividends. What will happen is that Pag-IBIG will use your TAV to pay for your personal loan. (That’s the reason why you are only granted a percentage of your TAV for your MPL loan.)
- You can always activate your regular membership by contributing anew.
If you have some more questions related to this topic, please feel free to use the comment form below. We may have to update this article depending on the questions that we get.
The title of the article has raised this question: Is it really worth joining the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program?
What do you think? You be the judge. Make sure you also read the related articles cited as links on this article. Don’t hesitate to send us your opinions.
~~~
“Joining The Pag-IBIG Overseas Program — Is It Really Worth It?” is written by Carlos Velasco.
Tags : Membership, Pag-IBIG Overseas Program, POP
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Hi, I have joined the PAGIBIG since before but I forgot the necessary details if my membership status. I remember that I also have deposited small amount as savings. I have been an OFW for 21 years and last June, I was ask to pay for PAGIBIG in consulate to get my OEC.
Please, can you send me all the records/details of my membership and the amount I have deposited.
Thank you very much
Hi can you please send me deatils thru email my pag ibig number and total contributions because I did not pay since 2008 I left for Dubai.
I want to continue paying. Thank you more power
PAG IBIG FUND,HI PO TANONG KO LANG PO.
NAKA LOAN NA PO AKO NG HOUSING LOAN,KASALUKUYAN KO PONG BINABAYARAN,SA NGAYON PO GUSTO KO SANANG MAGLOAN NG BUSSNESS LOAN,PWEDE PA PO BA,
@Mario:
The so called Business Loan is actually under the Pag-IBIG Multi-Purpose Loan. To know more about the program, please refer to the link
below.
http://www.pagibigfinancing.com/articles/2011/more-on-pag-ibig-multi-purpose-loan/
@marieta and @Enrique:
Please request it at the branch where you used to remit your contributions.
i am an ofw.where can i take an application form to join as a membership of Pag-ibig fund?how many years can a member to take any loans?
hi admin,,, good day po,, ask ko lang po about sa contribution ko, kc (POP ) PAG IBIG 1 member po ako d2 sa abu dhabi since july 2010 then i pay until june 2012 na po yun,,,then kahapun nag pa member po ako sa MODIFIED PAG IBIG 11 PROGRAM…paano ko po malalaman na kung magkahiwalay yung PAG IBIG 1 at PAG IBIG 11 ko. kc po yun na lang ang kinuha nila sa akin yong POP MEMBERSHIP ID VERIFICATION at doon nila sinulat sa resibo ko,… nag apply po kc ako ng PAG IBIG 11 dito sa abu dhabi,,, sa halagang 500 peso kada sa loob ng 5 taon… so paano ko po malalaman na magkahiwalay yung contribution ko sa PAG IBIG 1 at PAG IBIG 11 ko kc isang ID number po…. kailangan ko po ang sagot nyo salamat po….
gud day po admin,1 po akong ofw nais ko po sana magloan ng housing loan at 4yrs. na po akong member ng pag-ibig pero may 10 buwan na po akong gap sa hulog ko simula ng dumating ako d2, kailangan ko pa po bang magpatransfer ng hulog from local pag-ibig to POP at nakapag MPL din po ako di ko parin po nababayaran ano po ba ang dapat kung gawin para maipagpatuloy ko ang contribution ko para makapag housing loan?.
Hi. I am in abu dhabi and i am continually paying my pagibig contribution through the POP program. How come it shows that i do not have any record when i try to track my payments in the website?
Paano ba ako maging member ng Pag Ibig I? Wala ako sa Pilipinas ngayon. Anong gawin ko once I go to Cebu for vacation?
Pano po ba mag instant join? may problema po kc ako sa monthly ammo. ng house balak ko po sana i loan pero di po ako member ng pag ibig……….Salamat po!
Iam a pagibig member since 1997 til 2005. and stop paying contribution for a year because I resigned in my previous employer and worked again with the same employer for another 2 yrs and for good resigned again.
I just wan to know what happen to my contributions. Can I still benefit from it?
Badly need your advice…
P.S.
I’ve been a pgibig member for a total of 10yrs, 1997-2005 and 2006-2008.
please advice
thanks!
I am an OFW working in Saudi Arabia,can we avail salary loan in PAG-IBIG mutual fund?Please reply asap.
@viraddalie:
If you are a member for at least 24 months, you can.
@Elizabeth:
Please be assured that all your past contributions with Pag-IBIG are still there. And that you are still entitled to the benefits once you reactivate your membership.
@nadin:
Instant join is fine, but you may not be able to get an instant loan.
@salvacion:
Please visit the Pag-IBIG office when you are back to the Philippines.
@Kathreen:
Please don’t rely on that online facility. It doesn’t show real time results.
@jeffrey:
You only have to contribute to the Pag-IBIG I, not the POP, to get a home loan. Please continue with your regular Pag-IBIG membership.
@mhel:
You will have a separate account number for the two program.
@melissa:
The best way to do it is to have a representative do that in the Philippines.
hi gd pm po, member na po ako ng pag ibig msa katunayan naka losn na po ako ng hoasing loan sa teresa, samaka tuwid na foreclose po ang bahay namin ,kadahilanan sa nawalan ng trabaho, sa ngayon po nagugupahan nalng po kami, ask ko lang po sana kung puedi pa ba ako uli mg loan ng housing ? nakasakay na po ako ngayon sa barko ,so gusto ko sana kumuha uli ng bahay through pag ibig para alam ko safe ang aking pamilya kahit wala ako. salamat po.
hi gud pm po,ofw po ako d2 sa saud. hindi pa ho ako member ng pag-ibig.kung magbabayad ho ba ako ng 24months contribution,pwede ko ho bang ipasok ung aking nakuha na house & lot??? pls.reply po…thank you.
pwede ko ho bang ipasok sa pag-ibig financing???
@sherwin:
Unfortunately, you are not allowed any more to get another home loan because of that foreclosed property.
@gina:
Well, it depends on a lot of factors.
gudday poh…ask ko lng poh kung a? ang requirements nyo sa pagkuha ng lansome…tnx poh..
@emierose:
You mean, you want to know how to withdraw your money at the Fund?
There are some guidelines to follow. Please read this article for more info:
http://www.pagibigfinancing.com/articles/2010/your-money-in-pag-ibig-fund/
helllo, dati akong member ng PAGIBIG nahinto lang contributions ko ng mag move kami dito sa US, mayroon ba kayong program para sa kagaya namin immiglrant dito US na gustong bumili ng bahay/condo dyan sa Manila. thank you for your time.
Hi admin…
Ask LNG Kung pwd instant membership pgbalik koh…?
@Paul:
You can be voluntary member of the Pag-IBIG Fund if you want. But please consider also the other
financing alternatives like using bank loans, etc.
@Daisy:
Yes, you can be a member anytime.
[...] Membership Maturity – Regular members of the Pag-IBIG Program or the Pag-IBIG I can apply for provident claims upon maturity of their membership. Maturity here means having made [...]
good day po, ofw po ako dito sa saudi, member po ako ng pag ibig kaso po natigil na akong magbayad mga 4 years na, may 24 months po akong contribution, pwede po ba akong magloan para sa business at kulang pa po ba ang 24 months na contribution, kung kulang pwede po bang mag instant bayad ako para maka avail ng loan at kung sakali pwede po bang makaloan agad? salamat..
hi,i am an ofw based in ireland,i’m really interested to join your POP because i’m planning to make a housing loan someday,could you please advise me on how i’m going to start my membership,how am i going to pay the monthly contribution of $5? i’ll be waiting for your reply
regards,
cyril
@marieta:
I’m afraid you can’t get a loan that way. You have to be actively contributing for the last 24 months prior to your loan application.
Good day Admin,
As of 1995~2004 active po ako sa Pagibig but then 2004~2012 OFW napo ako, nahinto ko contribution, mas advantage po ba enrol nalang ako ng POP at mag contribute ng P500/month for 24months para ma-avail ang P1M Housing loan.Paano po mag enrol dito sa Taiwan at pwede po ba one time payment ng 24months para makapagloan kagad ako(as per my friend pagtwag nya sa Taipei Pagibig branch pede nadaw,nabago nadaw rules)?or kelangan ko start ngayon 2012~2014 bago ako makapagloan.
Please enlighten me.
Maraming salamat po.
good am po,gusto ko sanang mag pa member ng pag ibig paano po ba?mag kano po ba ang babayaran,?at amg monthly nito?aalis na po ako sa march para abroad pwede ko bang doon nlng mag bayad.Salamat….
gud day po admin,
pakiusap kelangan ko po tulong nio para malinawan ako.. ofw po ako at may updated 7 months na po ako contri sa POP as of february 2012, tapos may 26 months naman po ako contri sa PAG IBIG I ko as of MARCH 2009 pa hindi ko na nadagdagan hanggang ngayon..gusto ko po kumuha ng housing loan next year, at isa po sa mga Eligibility Reqs dapat may latest 24 contri prior to loan application..ask ko po ano po ba dapat ko talaga ituloy, POP O PAG IBIG I?…nagtanong po kc asawa ko sa pagibig offices sa may Kalentong at sa may Justine Bldg. Makati kung ano po ba dapat ko ituloy sa dalawa, pareho sagot ng dalawang pag ibig branches at sabi mas maganda ituloy ko nalang POP kc ito ung latest ko at cgurado makwa- qualify daw ako kc pagsasamahin naman ung POP at PAGIBIG I contributions ko?..Pero nabasa ko d2 sa site nio at sa mismong FAQ ng HDMF site na hindi pwede i-merge ung contris kc separate programs ang PAGIBIG I at POP dba po?..admin please ano po ba talaga mas mabuti ituloy ko, ung POP na 7 months plang ang contri ko, or ung PAGIBIG I na may 26 months contributions na ko?..please ulit admin i need your important advice… thanks
My husband and I are interested in making a Housing Loan or Multi Purpose loan whichever magfall yung money loan na pangbili ng lupa. Situation is, instead of buying a RFO Townhouse na eligible for PAGIBIG housing loan, me lote ang tita ng husband ko na binebenta worth 1Million. Yun na lang gusto namin i-loan sa pagibig. Is it possible na i-loan ung amount payment for the Lot sa Pagibig? If Yes. Is it also possible to add an additional amount to the loan to make a house on that LOT? or hindi possible un? As I understand, only 80 percent of the value of the property can be loaned. Or has it changed already? Please advice as we are both new to these kind of dealings. I am a freelance tutor/ part time call center and full time on my small online business. I dont have ITR – i am a voluntary Pagibig Member during times that I am not employed. Thus, I never missed any contribution since I started working and in between Idle mode. As per husband, he is a sea farer. But prior to that, he’s been employed locally and has paid his monthly dues without delinquent record. Please advice on what to do as PAGIBIG office workers in PASIG City are not friendly enough to entertain such queries.
Thanks and this page has been helpful enough to us.
Hi,
Good day! I was a pag-ibig member last 2003 since i left abroad i stop paying..How can i restored my pag-ibig membership ? I want to continue to became a member in pag-ibig..
Hi Admin,
Matatanong po ako kung pano makpagloan para po sa pagpapaayos ng bahay..bale 2005 pa po aq naging OFW until now bale nauupdate po yun sa contribution ko kada uwiko lang po..pano po ba aq makapagloan?
marami pong salamat.God bless..
hi
tanong q lang po 4 na taon na po akong OFW pero nung last year 2011 pa lang po ako naging member ng pagibig. plano q po sana magloan nitong taon na to. pano po ba mababayad ng contribution? salmaat
gusto co sna mging member ng POP,how?paibig member nco,ngstop lng aco sa contribution wen i resigned,year 2010 i guess..up to now,dpa co nkpgcontribute uli..im an ofw working in japan right now..
Hi admin.,
Good day po. Nagmember po ako sa POP bago po ako umalis ng pinas last 2008 but hangang don na LNG po yon d na po ako makapag hulog since then, now pwede po ba ako mag bayad in 1time para macover up po ung 24 months contribution to avail a housing loan? Kasi me nabili po ako ng house and lot way back in 2005 pero assume balance LNG po un continues po ako nagbabayad ala palya kaya LNG po I still using the first owners account ngayon gusto ko na po sana iapply un sa account ko through POP pwede po ba un? Sana po matulungan nyo po ako kasi balak ko na po esettle un pagnaka uwi po ako salamat po and more power….
Wilbert
Sir, papano naman po yung contribution na hindi na i post
kse po nag doble s recibo ng POP at ng RA Mandatory contribution.
ng umuwi po ako sa pinas sabi nung representative don eh nahihirapan daw mahirapan sila mag separate ng contribution noon kse pinagsama daw sa iisang resibo kya hindi nila na ipost daw eh 5k pesos din yon di sana i binangko ko nalang yon tumubo pa kaysa nawala na sa circulastion ng pag post di ibig sabihin po non dina nag ka TAV o tumubo kse nga dinila na i post ang contribution. nung binalikan ko yung ibang recibo ko ng payment e meron pong contribution akong binarayaran sa pagibig na pinag sama din yung RA mandatory at yung POP pero na i post naman po nila . how come yung isang recibo hindi nila na ipost.kya hindi po ako naniniwala nung sinabi nung babae na employee ng pagibig sa makati na mahihirapan sila mag post non. at sabi mag eemail nalang daw siya kung maayos na eh ilang bwan na po nakabalik nako dito sa abroad ala parin naman yung email. sana magawan naman po ng paraan yon. kse nakakapang hinayang na mag hulog sa Pagibig na wala palang assurance kung na ipost yung contribution namin o hindi eh sayang naman hindi naman po namin pinupulot ang pera dito sa abroad. pinag hihirapan po namin yon.
Dear Admin,
Sir we’re can we find our total accumulated contribution? coz i’m trying it in PAGIBIG website nothing appears. Naghuhulog po ako as POP since July 2009 pero wala parin pong lumalabas sa kung tinitingnan ko.
Gud day po, admn. Pag ibig member po ko since1996, 2004 po ng abroad ako unpto now continuous p rin contribution ko through my former employer (since 1996-present) jn s pinas gusto ko po ng mg housing loan, pano po b Gawin ko? Nun ngbakasyon po ko pinas ng seminar po ko pr housing loan kso nguluhan po ko.. Limited LNG time ko s pinas tapos piña a attend p po ko ulit ng Ibang seminar, Hindi po ko mkpg loan.. Ano po bng Gagawin ko?pwede po bng d2 ko s abroad mg apply ng Loan, although, di po ko ng directly ngcocontribute kun di yung employer ko noon s pinas? O yung dati ko pong employer (yung ngcocontribute po in behalf s kin) ang mag aapply in behalf s kin? San po ko ku kuha ng mga forms? Nun ng seminar ako yung forms n binigay s kin Hindi ko po m fill up ng mayos dahil po s nbanggit kong sitwasyon. Help out please.. Thank you po
member po ako ng pag ibig since 1996 -2002 pero my naiwan po akong loan. member p po b ako and puede p po b ako mkaavil ng mga benipisyo ng pagibig?
Good day admin! question lang po, I have been a member of PAG-IBIG for 4years when i was still working in the Philippines, pero nung nag abroad ako last year na-stop na yung hulog ko,March this year nag-update ako ng contribution so hinulugan ko yung last year na kulang pati binayaran ko na din yung whole 2012 na hulog ko, Pwede na po ba akong mag avail ng loan ngayon o do i have to wait for another 24 months para approve sa loan?
Maraming salamat po sana ay matulungan nio po ako
Hello po. Gusto ko pong bumili ng house and lot pero dito na ako nakatira sa South Korea at Korean citizen na po ako. Pwede po ba akong mag pa member ng POP Pag-ibig ngayon?….Balak ko pong bumili this year. nagtuturo po ako ng English dito……i need your help…Pwede pa ba akong makabili ng house sa pangalan ko kahit citizen na ako dito?……thanks po
hi!i am not a pag ibig member but i am planning to be a pop member.i am currently working abroad.ask ko lang po if it is possible for me to avail the multi purpose loan immediately the moment i become a POP member?or what is the legal process of availing the loan if you are a new member.
thank you.hoping for your kind reply.
trisha
good day po ofw din po ako aks ko po, 2yrs n po ako pay ng pag ibig in lokal. n 1yrs n po din n pay n ofw. bali 3yrs n po member. pidi n po b mg load ako khit 1yar lng ung pay n ofw. pero tuloy tuloy nman po ung pay ku wla palya ung pay ko.500 kda buwan ung pay ko tnx po n god blss!!!
@romeo:
I wish you were aware that POP is different from regular Pag-IBIG Membership. In any case, you may apply for a short-term loan
as long as you are active for the past 24 months.
@trisha:
The minimum is 24 months membership before you can take on a loan.
@Edna:
Former Filipinos are definitely allowed to own a property in the Philippines. But if I were you, just stick to Bank Financing. That should be simpler on your part.
@Mang Jose:
Please take note that you can’t pay retroactively for the missed contributions. You may be able to apply for any loan now, but please verify first at the branch.
@olivia:
If that’s a short-term loan, it’s probably fully paid already. You need to check your records there at the branch.
@Florence:
I’m not sure what kind of information to share with you first. But, please take time to browse and read the contents of this website.
Most of what you need are already here.
@Pol:
You have to request it at the branch.
@jesus:
Please direct your complaints to publicaffairs@pagibigfund.gov.ph and call the attention of the management about your problem.
pwede ba ko mag apply ng Multipurpose loan for business ang katumbas ng binabayad kona pwede illoan ay nasa 1.7m. i need 500k to start a gYM business posible po ba ang 500k?
ask ko lang po kun pno mag member husbnd ko na ofw. kun magkano po contribution nya a month. at kung sakali na mahuugan namin ang 24 contributions ng wala pang 2 years pede napo ba cya mag housing loan na 2.5k , light payment lang po or payable for atleast years ? tnx and God bless..
@noel:
The amount you’ll get from a short-term loan is very minimal an will depend on your contributions.
@marygrace:
You can process his application at the office. After you have paid an equivalent of 24 months, you may still have to wait for a couple more months before applying for a housing loan. The housing loan term is up to 30 years.
is it posible to claim my pag-ibig overseas program savings fund? i already pass my ducuments but still no responce its been 6 months since my memebership ends…can you please help me for this. thank you..
im form dubai po,may 24 months n po ata akong may contribution sa pag ibig,ang binabayaran ko po sa contribution is 200 pesos per month so 2400 po sa isang taon so mkakapaloan po b ako ng around 1.5 million?at anu po ang mga requirements kasi po dito po ko sa dubai ..gusto ko pong kumuha by next year..salamat po,..
hi admin,
just now i came to know that POP is different from PagIbig1. If I’m active POP member from 2006 till date and paying a monthly contribution of Php 2K and non-active as PagIbig1 from 2006 till date. Can i avail a housing loan or a Multi purpose loan? If not what benefit can i get from being POP member. This coming July 2012 i really badly needed a loan for our house interior construction. Appreciate your valued direction and advice. Thanks
@josephine:
Please follow up at the branch.
Yes, of course. That’s your money.
@owell:
You are probably allowed to get a 1.5M loan amount. But if you are planning to get a housing loan, please take note that your income plays a big factor.
Please read this related article:
http://www.pagibigfinancing.com/articles/2011/how-your-income-and-contributions-affect-your-housing-loan-entitlement/
@christina:
Yes, you can take a home or or MPL based on that, since you became a member for a long time already before the new law was implemented.
Thanks admin for the positive response. I have three more questions further on that. My name under my POP program is my name when I was still single and I still did not update or change my status till now. My no. 1 question is in which stage should I apply for changing my name into married name? Before or after applying for a loan? I have been advised from the embassy that I should apply first for the loan before updating my name to avoid conflict for the loan process. No. 2. Is changing my name to married name will affect my POP contribution? No. 3. Should I update or continue my PagIbig1 contribution also? Appreciate your advice in this regard. Thanks.
@christina:
1. Please update your name/record before you take on a loan, but make sure you ask for a copy of all your contributions and keep it with you in a safe place. It’s best also if all your ID cards bear your married name.
2. It should not affect your contribution. But please make sure you get a copy of contributions first.
3. Right now, Pag-IBIG I is already mandatory, but you can still loan using your POP is you have been a member for a long time.