Latest news with #LingkodPag-IBIG
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
Pag-IBIG Fund continues to grow members' savings as investment income climbs 50%
Pag-IBIG Fund recorded a 50% increase in investment income in the first four months of 2025, reflecting its prudent financial stewardship and growing capacity to support members' savings and housing needs. The development affirms the agency's key role in advancing the Marcos administration's agenda of strengthening government financial institutions and improving the lives of Filipino workers through responsive social benefits. From January to April 2025, the agency earned ₱2.73 billion in investment income alone—significantly higher than the ₱1.81 billion posted during the same period in 2024—driven by strategic placements in bonds and other debt securities, money market instruments, equities, and investment properties. Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta highlighted that the agency's investment portfolio stood at ₱158.15 billion as of April 2025, reflecting a 42% year-on-year increase from ₱111.39 billion in April 2024. She noted that this growth forms part of Pag-IBIG Fund's sound and strategic allocation of its more than ₱1.11 trillion in total assets—a milestone the agency reached earlier this month. Based on the latest available data, Pag-IBIG Fund's earning assets have reached ₱1.09 trillion, consisting of ₱856.96 billion in housing-related assets, ₱77.94 billion in short-term loans, and ₱158.12 billion in income-generating investments. The remaining ₱20 million accounts for other assets, including property and equipment, cash, and intangible assets. 'Our investments play a vital role in providing our members with the best possible returns,' Acosta said. 'We begin by meeting our housing investment requirement to help more Filipinos own homes through affordable financing. We also maintain adequate funding for our short-term loans, ensuring members have access to immediate financial assistance. Remaining investible funds are placed in secure instruments that deliver competitive returns while preserving liquidity for members' claims. Through this balanced, disciplined approach—anchored on the strategic allocation of our resources to housing, short-term lending, and investments—we fulfill our mission to safeguard our members' trust and deliver meaningful benefits, the Lingkod Pag-IBIG way.' Meanwhile, the agency also formally welcomed Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling this week as the newly appointed Chairperson of its 11-member Board of Trustees. His leadership is expected to further guide Pag-IBIG Fund's strategic direction in line with the Marcos administration's housing and institutional development agenda.
Filipino Times
31-03-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Pag-IBIG Fund keeps housing loan rates low amid rising market trends
Pag-IBIG Fund will maintain its low interest rates on housing loans until June 2025, marking the second consecutive year of offering affordable home financing and defying the upward trend in market lending rates, top officials announced Thursday (March 27). Pag-IBIG Fund continues to offer significantly lower rates as the agency has held its three-year repricing period steady at 6.25% per annum and maintains an even lower rate of 5.75% per annum for its one-year repricing period. This, despite the rise in home lending rates based on market reports, with indicative rates ranging from 6.82% to 7.94%, and effective rates between 7.18% and 8.78% as of the week ending January 29, 2025. Pag-IBIG's Affordable Housing Program, meanwhile, also continues to provide a special 3% interest rate per annum for minimum-wage earners, remaining the lowest available rate in the market today. 'We recognize the importance of affordable home financing for Filipino workers. Thanks to PagIBIG Fund's robust fiscal management, we can consistently provide our members with rates that are within their means and therefore open doors to homeownership for more members. This effort aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to address the housing needs of our countrymen,' said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and chair of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said that the agency's ability to retain its low interest rates is the result of the efficiencies in its operations, the surge in its performing loans ratio, and robust collections of loan payments. 'We posted a record-high performing loans ratio of 93.72% to end last year, which means most of our members are diligently paying their home loans. This, combined with the quality of our investment portfolio, allows us to finance housing loans without the need to borrow externally, which in turn insulates our members from rising market interest rates. That is why I urge our borrowers to keep with their obligations because doing so will keep Pag-IBIG Fund–their fund–healthy. And when their fund is healthy, they can continue to enjoy low interest rates,' Acosta said. Acosta further emphasized that Pag-IBIG housing loans offer members significant financial benefits, as interest rates remain lower than the dividends earned on their savings, allowing them to grow their funds even while financing their homes. 'As administrators of the workers' fund, we remain deeply committed to providing affordable home loans and competitive dividends, empowering our members to achieve homeownership and a better life. This exemplifies our Lingkod Pag-IBIG Brand of Service – Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso,' she added.
