Soc clarifies Pag-Ibig issue

CEBU, Philippines - Following questions on deductions of Home Development Mutual Fund (or Pag-Ibig) contributions, Mayor Socrates Fernandez has issued a memorandum urging job order workers to file their member’s data form (MDF) in the Human Resource Office.

“For job order workers who have not yet submitted their Pag-Ibig Member’s Data Form, kindly submit them to the Human Resource Office for registration,” read Fernandez’s memorandum dated April 25.

Fernandez said they can also register online via Pag-Ibig’s official website, and take note of their registration tracking numbers.

“Should you have any queries/clarification regarding your Pag-Ibig monthly contributions, please coordinate with the Human Resource Office,” read the memorandum.

This notice from the mayor came after Councilor Romeo Villarante on their session last week told the council a few of these workers complained that the HRO is deducting P200 from their monthly salaries supposedly for their Pag-Ibig contribution. They questioned the supposed contribution as they were not made to file any Pag-Ibig membership beforehand.

City administrator Richel Bacaltos said the money deducted from all 700 job orders (there are only around 700 of the more than 1,000 job orders who are qualified) directly goes to Pag-Ibig.

This is contrary to insinuation that the money is being pocketed by a certain office, he said.

Also, Bacaltos said as per Pag-Ibig policy, once an employee has worked for any institution for more than six months, he is automatically entitled to become its member.

He also added that it is the HRO that forwards the names of the eligible workers to the Pag-Ibig office, hence they did not ask them to file any membership papers. Nevertheless, to clarify things, Fernandez issued his order for their “information and guidance.” — (FREEMAN)