Pag-IBIG says penalty condonation appeal pending approval of Board of Trustees

MANILA - The appeal of business groups for a penalty condonation for firms affected by the pandemic has been considered and is now up for the board's approval, Pag-IBIG CEO said Monday. 

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc earlier asked Pag-IBIG to extend aid for struggling firms in the form of penalty condonation.

The penalty condonation will cover delinquent employers in the last 2 years. Business groups have also requested for a longer payment plan for those who could not immediately pay within 6 months, Moti told ANC. 

"Given the realities of an economic crisis, we have considered their request and our proposal is to extend it up to 1 year, if necessary, subject to approval. So long as we can see that employers need longer payment plans, we will go for it," Moti told ANC.

"We have incorporated these and we will soon present them to the board of trustees of Pag-IBIG. At the management level, the management committee, we approved it recently just last week. [This is now] for presentation for Board of Trustees," he added.

With the penalty condonation, the Pag-IBIG fund stands to lose some P868 million in additional income, Moti said, highlighting that in the time of a pandemic the agency is "willing to extend a helping hand."

Remittance performance has gone down as the number of actively remitting members decreased to 12 million in 2020. But Moti said there has been a recovery as the total hit 13 million in the first half of 2021.

The year 2021 is also poised to record the "highest ever" housing loan releases due to the rising demand.

• Business groups seek penalty 'condonation' from Pag-IBIG to ease entrepreneurs' burden