MANILA, Philippines – Officials of 57 companies face imprisonment after the Pag-IBIG Fund filed cases against their establishments for non-registration of their employees in the first trimester of 2012. Of the number, 19 employers are in the National Capital Region and 38 in other parts of the country. Republic Act (RA) 9679, or the Pag-IBIG Fund Law of 2009, mandates Pag-IBIG membership for individuals earning at least P1,000 and their respective employers. “Non-registration means that their employees are deprived of their benefits as employees and as Pag-IBIG Fund members,” Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, Pag-IBIG chief executive officer, said. Berberabe urges unregistered employers to avail of penalty condonation program to register and settle the required contributions of employees to avoid being charged for non-registration. Pag-IBIG’s penalty condonation program will run until June 30.