Press Release
1 September 2010
Migrant group to VP Binay: Suspend, with finality, the OFW compulsory membership to PAG-IBIG amid discovery of bogus housing loan
Amid the discovery of several PAG-IBIG bogus housing loans based on a series of special reports by the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), an alliance of Filipino migrant group in the Middle East today urges Vice President and HUDCC Chairman Jejomar Binay to suspend, with finality, the POEA Memorandum Circular No.6, Series of 2010, making OFWs coverage to PAG-IBIG compulsory.
“This is what we have been saying that OFWs compulsory membership to PAG-IBIG is not a wise decision beneficial to OFWs and their dependents but only an added burden as their is no certainty that our contribution will rebound to our own benefits amid reports of alleged bogus housing loans engaged by PAG-IBIG,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
Last month, Migrante chaptes in the Middle East and around the world have protested and launched massive campaign actions against the government policy of requiring OFWs membership to PAG-IBIG compulsory from being optional on previous years based on its PAG-IBIG Optional loan facility for OFWs.
VP Binay, acting as the Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) in reply to the calls of Migrante, OFWs and their families had responded affirmatively by temporarily suspending POEA MC No.6 pending further study of the policy requiring OFWs compulsory membership to PAG-IBIG.
“We welcome the prompt action of the House of Representatives conducting an investigation, in aid of legislation, based on the series of reports by the PDI about the reported bogus housing loans released by PAG-IBIG to a certain Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation using ghost beneficiaries,” Monterona added.
“By conducting a congressional inquiry,” Monterona said “many anomalies, misuses of the housing funds from members’ contributions could be unearthed, but the investigation would be useless if those erring and corrupt PAG-IBIG officials will not be sent to jail.”
The Saudi-based OFW leader said the alleged P6.6 billions housing loans proceeds released to Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation using fake beneficiaries is a big amount that million PAG-IBIG members whose housing loan may not be granted due to unavailability of funds.
“We hope this would not be used a justification for not granting or holding the release of PAG-IBIG member’s application for a housing loan,” Monterona added.
“We hope that VP and HUDCC chairman Binay would finally ‘strike the last nail in the coffin’ requiring OFWs membership to PAG-IBIG compulsory, but rather maintain the optional facility loans for OFWs this time allowing OFWs with lower contribution schemes or schedules,” Monterona ended. (Bulatlat.com)
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator
