Pag-IBIG Fund (Home Development Mutual Fund) has deferred its scheduled monthly premium hike this year to 2024.
“We affirm that Pag-IBIG Fund has no proposed contribution hike this 2023,” Pag-IBIG said in a statement.
The announcement came days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered PhilHealth to suspend the increase of its premium rate and income ceiling for 2023 “in light of prevailing socio-economic challenges” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, Pag-IBIG obtained the concurrence of our stakeholders to implement a planned monthly contribution increase from P100 to P150 in 2021.
“This was continually deferred in recognition of the continuing effects of the pandemic to both the business community and our members,” Pag-IBIG said. “Currently, our rates remain unchanged since 1986.”
The current minimum monthly contribution of Pag-IBIG members is at P200 – equally shared by employers and employees.
“As part of our efforts to improve the benefits of our members and with our country’s continued economic recovery, we shall be conducting consultations with employer and labor groups regarding plans to increase our contribution rates to take effect no earlier than 2024,” Pag-IBIG said.
The Social Security System, on the other hand, will push through with its scheduled contribution rate hike from 13% to 14% this year.
The SSS said this would result in a 22-year extension of the fund’s life.
For his part, PhilHealth spokesman Rey Baleña said the suspension of the premium rate hike and the raising of the income ceiling to P90,000 would not affect its operations.
“It is only the new benefits packages that will have a possible adjustment in deployment but the current benefits packages will not have any changes,” he said.
Among the new benefit packages to be implemented this year are the severe severe acute malnutrition package as well as the outpatient mental health package, according to the PhilHealth official.f five offices: the Executive Office, Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Private Office, Office of the Special Assistant to the President, and the Presidential Communications Office.
The Executive Office shall consist of the offices of the following: Executive Secretary, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary, Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration, Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs, Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration and Internal Audit Office.
The Office of the Special Assistant to the President shall have control and supervision over Presidential Assistants and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.
The Private Office will provide direct services to the President and attend to personal functions and matters of the First Family.
The PCO shall be responsible for crafting, formulating, developing, enhancing and coordinating the messaging system of the executive branch of the government.
The Presidential Management Staff will be under the supervision of the Office of the Executive Secretary and will perform the functions of the Cabinet Secretariat in assisting the President for establishing agenda topics during Cabinet deliberations and meetings.
Meanwhile, President Marcos appointed new officials that would join the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Office of the Executive Secretary (EOS), the Palace said Wednesday.
Former Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) chief Gilbert Cruz has been designated as PAOCC Undersecretary, while lawyer Rogelio Peig has been named as the OES Undersecretary for Strategic Action and Response Office.
Cruz previously served as a member of the Dangerous Drugs Board under the Duterte administration.
Meanwhile, Peig served as city administrator of the Valenzuela City government from April 2008 to May 2010 and chief political affairs officer at the House of Representatives from July 2004 to April 2009.
