Are you an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) based in Canada? If so, be sure to pay your mandatory Pag-IBIG Fund contributions regularly. Meanwhile, if you’re a Filipino immigrant, permanent resident, or a naturalized citizen, you can opt for membership as a voluntary member. These are the latest policies stated in Republic Act No. 9679 or the “Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Law.”
Whether you’re an OFW or a voluntary member, paying your Pag-IBIG Fund contributions enables you to save and benefit from the agency’s services. Fortunately, here in Canada, paying your Pag-IBIG Fund contributions is as easy as 1-2-3!
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Canada OFW’s Guide to Paying Pag-IBIG Contributions
To learn more about the Pag-IBIG Fund and how you can pay contributions while based in Canada, here is a brief overview:
What is Pag-IBIG?
The Pag-IBIG Fund is a Philippine government agency that provides affordable housing loans, high-earning savings programs, and other services to its members, including OFWs. It is overseen by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD); and the term actually stands for “Pagtutulungan sa kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya, at Gobyerno.”
Vision and Mission
What is the vision and mission of the Pag-IBIG Fund? Its official website presents these statements:
Vision. “For every Filipino worker to save with Pag-IBIG Fund, to achieve their dream of home ownership, and to improve their quality of life.”
Mission. “To generate more savings from more Filipino workers, to administer a sustainable Fund with integrity, sound financial principles, and with social responsibility, and to provide accessible funds for housing of every member.”
Programs and Benefits
The Pag-IBIG Fund provides different kinds of savings programs and loans to its members, depending on their needs.
Pag-Ibig I Savings
Pag-IBIG I Savings is the regular savings program of Pag-IBIG Fund. By making a monthly saving or contribution of just PHP 200 per month, members can avail of the agency’s various programs and services. By the time that a member retires, he/she can expect to received the Total Accumulated Value (TAV); this includes all of his/her monthly savings, employer counterpart (if applicable), and dividend earnings.
Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) Savings
The Modified Pag-IBIG 2 or MP2 Savings is a voluntary program for members who would like to save more, in addition to their regular savings. Earning a higher dividend rate than Pag-IBIG I, the MP2 enables members to save more and earn more, as well. The minimum contribution for MP2 is PHP 200 per month; it can be withdrawn after a maturity period of five (5) years.
Housing Loan
Pag-IBIG Fund members can avail of housing loans at affordable rates, lower than those offered in most banks. The Pag-IBIG Housing Loan may be used for various purposes, including: purchase of a residential lot; purchase of a residential house and lot; building a house; improving a house; refinancing an existing housing loan; or a combination of different purposes.
Multi-Purpose Loan
The Pag-IBIG Fund Multi-Purpose Loan or MPL may be used for purposes other than housing. Members can borrow money to help pay for their children’s tuition, to have additional capital for their small businesses, and other needs. This loan allows them to loan up to 80 percent of their regular savings; it has a maximum repayment period of two (2) years or 24 months.
Calamity Loan
The Pag-IBIG Fund Calamity Loan is offered to members who have been affected by calamities such as typhoons, floods, or earthquakes. It enables them to recover from the effects of these calamities. Similar to the MPL, this loan amounts to up to 80 percent of a member’s regular savings; it is payable over a period of two (2) or three (3) years.
Health and Education Loan Programs (HELPs)
This loan is specifically for Pag-IBIG Fund members who need help with their health and educational expenses. Members can loan up to 80 percent of their regular savings. The borrowed funds are credited directly to hospitals and schools for faster processing.
Video: How to Open Pag-IBIG MP2 Savings
Thinking about opening a Pag-IBIG MP2 Account to earn higher savings? Check out this video shared by OFW Power YouTube channel:
How to Pay Pag-IBIG Contributions
For OFWs, there are two basic ways to pay Pag-IBIG Fund contributions: over the counter payments, and online payments.
For over the counter payments, yYou can go to banks or remittance centers that are accredited by Pag-IBIG. Outside the Philippines, these include: Philippine National Bank (PNB), Asia United Bank (AUB), Ventaja International Corporation — and their respective collecting agents.
At the bank or remittance center, inform the staff that you would like to pay for your Pag-IBIG Fund contribution. They will provide you with a Remittance Application Form; simply fill it out, submit the required documents (e.g. ID, passport), and make the payment!
Pag-IBIG Remittance Centers in Canada
Below is a list of banks (i.e. PNB branches) and remittance centers where OFWs in Canada can pay their Pag-IBIG Fund contributions:
- Atin Ito Variety Bakery & Remittance Ltd
- International Remittance (Canada) Ltd – Calgary
- International Remittance (Canada) Ltd – Bathurst, Toronto
- International Remittance (Canada) Ltd – Richmond
- PNB RCC Mississauga Branch
- PNB RCC Scarborough Branch
- PNB RCC Seafood City Branch (Mississauga Sub-Branch)
- PNB RCC Surrey Branch
- PNB RCC Vancouver Branch
- PNB RCC Wilson BranchPNB RCC Winnipeg Branch (Satellite Office)
- PNB Remittance Company (Canada) – Main Office
- Reliable Pesoremit (Phils) Inc.
- Reliance Services & Trading Co. Inc.
- U Remit International Corp.
How to Pay Pag-IBIG Contributions Online
If you prefer to pay your Pag-IBIG Fund contributions online, you can do so through Virtual Pag IBIG, an online portal where you can pay contributions, view savings and loan records, schedule an appointment with Pag-IBIG, and make other transactions.
Before using this portal, don’t forget to create a Virtual Pag-IBIG Account through the official website first. After creating an account, you can start paying your Pag-IBIG Fund contributions online, using banks cards (MasterCard, Visa) or digital wallets (Maya, GCash).
Contact Information: MWO Offices in Canada
For those who have questions about Pag-IBIG Fund and other Philippine government services, you can get in touch with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Toronto or Vancouver:
MWO in Toronto
Address: Suite 200, 160 Eglinton Ave., E, Toronto, ON, Canada, Ontario
Telephone: +1 416 975 8252
Email: mwo_toronto@dmw.gov.ph / vo_northamerica@pagibigfund.gov.ph
Website: https://torontopcg.dfa.gov.ph/polo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWOToronto/
Google Map Location:
MWO in Vancouver
Address: Suite 601, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C3E1
Telephone: +1 604 641 1234
Email: mwo_vancouver@dmw.gov.ph / vo_northamerica@pagibigfund.gov.ph
Website: https://www.vancouverpcg.org/migrant-workers-office-mwo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWOinVancouver/
Google Map Location:
Final Thoughts
The Pag-IBIG Fund offers not only housing loans, but also savings programs with rates that are better than those offered by most banks. OFWs can take advantage of these programs by making sure that their Pag-IBIG Fund membership is active and up to date.
Aside from the Pag-IBIG Fund, another government-run program is the Social Security System (SSS). Check out this article for more details about how to pay SSS contributions, for OFWs in Canada.