Pag-IBIG eases loan burden after calamities

Pag-IBIG eases loan burden after calamities | Daily Tribune

Pag-IBIG Fund announces a one-month payment moratorium and highlights housing loan insurance to support members affected by recent typhoons and earthquakes nationwide.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund Board Chairman Jose Ramon Aliling said the measures form part of the agency’s continuing commitment to deliver timely support to Filipino workers, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to accelerate recovery efforts in disaster-hit areas. He said Pag-IBIG is extending relief through a combination of payment reprieve, insurance coverage, and access to affordable loan programs.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive officer Marilene Acosta emphasized that all Pag-IBIG housing loans carry built-in insurance coverage that can help shoulder repair costs for damaged homes. She said the one-month payment moratorium is available to housing loan borrowers in areas placed under a state of calamity due to typhoons “Nando,” “Opong,” “Ramil,” “Tino” and “Uwan,” as well as the earthquakes that recently hit Cebu and Davao. Borrowers may apply for the moratorium online through Virtual Pag-IBIG.

Acosta added that the agency is ready to provide immediate assistance as members recover from the impact of the calamities. She emphasized that borrowers with damaged homes can tap into their housing loan insurance, while the one-month moratorium provides short-term financial relief, letting families prioritize safety and recovery.

Beyond the moratorium and insurance coverage, Pag-IBIG is also offering Calamity Loans and Home Improvement Loans at preferential rates. Under the Calamity Loan Program, eligible members in areas declared under a state of calamity may borrow up to 90 percent of their total Pag-IBIG Regular Savings at a low annual interest rate of 5.95 percent. The loan is payable for up to three years and comes with an automatic three-month grace period before the first payment.

Meanwhile, the Pag-IBIG Home Improvement Loan allows qualified members to borrow up to P300,000 for home repairs or upgrades. The loan can be repaid over five years and is currently available at a promotional 3 percent annual interest rate for the first 10,000 borrowers.

Acosta said rebuilding after disasters requires time and resources, and the agency’s suite of relief measures — payment moratorium, calamity loans, insurance protection, and home improvement financing — is designed to make recovery “easier, faster, and more affordable” for affected members.