Informal sector worker may become Pag-IBIG members even with out SSS coverage

By BONG PEDALINO
August 13, 2010

MAASIN CITY  –  The new Pag-IBIG law, or Republic Act 9679, is empowering the powerless.

A household help, for instance, who wishes to be covered by Pag-IBIG, and granting he/she worked with a generous employer, can be a member with only a certificate from her employer as proof of employment, and no other documentary requirements like being an SSS member.

This was one of the points duly discussed by Paul Talacay, Assistant Regional Manager for Operations of the Pag-IBIG Fund, during the Fund Forum held Monday at the Supercha Restaurant, this city.

To really reach out for a much wider coverage, the new law has lowered the threshold of mandatory coverage to Pag-IBIG Fund, from a monthly income of P4,000 to at least P1,000 a month, Talacay said.

Eligible to be covered under this new set-up are those workers belonging to the informal sector of society, which are classified as self-employed, including professionals, single proprietors, news reporters who are not under employer-employee relationship.

Also falling under this category are professional athletes, coaches, trainees, jockeys, farmers and fisherfolks, cigarette vendors, watch-your-car boys, and household helpers.

For this group of newly identified would-be Pag-IBIG members, the conventional documents that normally required to be attached were no longer needed, except basic personal information, Talacay said.

Also around at the Fund Forum explaining the features of the new law were Jennelyn Baretta, in-charge of Marketing and Enforcement, and two other key staff from the Regional Office.

Representatives from public and private employers, some bookkeepers, and members of the local media attended the activity.

Earlier, at the city hall lobby, a launching of the Pag-IBIG service desk was held in close coordination with the city government, Baretta reported.

Pag-IBIG used to maintain a branch office in the city three or four years ago, but it was closed for too much overhead costs.

With the new law, a need for a service desk cropped up again, wherein every third week of the month, from Wednesday to Friday, a personnel will be assigned to cater to queries and other needs of the members.