THE ENHANACED MODIFIED PAG-IBIG II (MP2) FOR 2018

This year, the new guidelines for Modified Pag-IBIG II (MP2) savings program has been approved. The enhanced MP2 will make all Pag-IBIG members eligible to enroll under the program regardless of their monthly income unlike the previous program which was open only to members with monthly income exceeding P5,000. The new program also extends coverage to retirees. This is also open to former Pag-IBIG members with other sources of monthly income or pensioners, regardless of age, with at least 24 monthly savings in Pag-IBIG Fund prior to their retirement. 

For the benefit of those who are unaware of the program let me give you a brief introduction of the program. The Modified Pag-IBIG II (MP2) savings program is a voluntary savings program designed to active Pag-IBIG I members with another savings option that yields higher annual dividend rates. In short, this is another source of investment in which you can put up your money and has a term of five (5) years. The minimum contribution is P500.00 per month but the member may opt to remit higher than that.

Aside from that, all contributions and earnings under MP2 are guaranteed by the government. For enrollment in the program you may visit the Pag-IBIG Fund website at http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/ and register online or visit any Pag-IBIG Branch near you.

ATTENTION TO ALL EMPLOYERS: NO S.P.A., NO PAYMENT ACCEPTANCE IN PHILHEALTH PREMIUM PAYMENT

Please be informed that starting on July 1, 2016 the Statement of Premium Accounts (SPA) must be presented upon payment of Philhealth Premium Contributions in lieu of the Philhealth Premium Payment Slip (PPPS) in compliance of  Philhealth Circular 2016-0008.

The SPA is generated by employers through their Electronic Premium Remittance System or EPRS. The EPRS has been mandated for use by all employers since April 2015 per Philhealth Circular No. 004-2015. It is an online platform for employers to update employee records, remit premium contributions online and reporting of employee contributions to Philhealth.

All employers in the private and government sectors are advised to register on EPRS or visit the nearest Philhealth office and coordinate with their respective Philhealth Accounts Management Specialists (PAIMS) to do so.

sample of Statement of Premium Accounts (SPA)

Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/circulars/2016/circ2016-008.pdf

SSS P.E.S.O. FUND

The Social Security System launched the SSS PESO Fund (Personal Equity and Savings Option)  a voluntary Provident Fund open for existing SSS members. It is voluntary Fund giving an opportunity to the members to save for their retirement tax-free and with guaranteed earnings.

Who may apply:

• All members of SSS who is below 55 years of age
• Have paid contributions in the regular program at least six (6) consecutive months within the 12-month period prior to the month of enrollment
• Self-employed (SE), voluntary (VM) and OFW members should be paying the maximum amount of contributions under the regular program
• Have not filed any final claim under the regular program

For enrollment please visit the nearest SSS branch near you. Membership in the Fund begins with the payment of the first contribution to the P.E.S.O. Fund. A member can contribute to the P.E.S.O. Fund anytime he/she has excess funds. Each member shall be allowed a maximum contribution of Php100,000.00 per annum and a minimum of Php1,000.00 per contribution.

The members contributions shall be allocated to three (3) types of accounts:

1. Retirement/Total Disability - 65%
2. Medical - 25%
3. General Purpose (such as education, housing, livelihood, unemployment) - 10%

Withdrawal from the SSS P.E.S.O. Fund are not allowed on retirement/total disability. The portion allotted to the medical and general purpose accounts are allowed to be withdrawn. The member will receive benefits from the P.E.S.O. Fund upon filing for a retirement, total disability or death claim under the regular SSS program. The member's contributions and the earnings from the SSS P.E.S.O. Fund  may opt to receive this in monthly pension, lump sum or a combination of both.

Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/appmanager/viewArticle.jsp?page=NR2015_032

SSS Loan Restructuring Program!

Good news! The Social Security System has launched the Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) for members with past due calamity loans and other short-term loans. To qualify, members live or work in calamity areas as declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) or the national government.

The LRP covers calamity loan borrowers in the 1990s following the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and 1990 earthquake, and members with past due short term loans in declared calamity areas after the onslaught of tropical storms and typhoons Ondoy in 2009; Sendong in 2011; Pedring, Quiel and Pablo in 2012; Labuyo, Maring, Santi, Yolanda and Agaton in 2013; Glenda, Mario, Ruby and Seniang in 2014; Lando and Nona in 2015. Also included are the Zamboanga armed conflict and the Bohol-Cebu earthquake which both occurred in 2013.

Apart from installment payments, the borrower can also opt to pay the outstanding principal and interest in full.. For both schemes, SSS shall waive all the loan penalties after the member has completed paying the restructured loan.

The LRP covers short-term SSS loan programs including the Salary Loan, Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP), Emergency Loan, Calamity Loan, Voc Tech Loan, Y2K Loan, Investments Incentive Loan, Study Now Pay Later Plan, and the previously-offered Educational Loan, which is different from the ongoing Educational Assistance (Educ-Assist) Loan Program. Stock Investment, Privatization Fund and Educ-Assist loans are excluded from the LRP.

To qualify, the loan must be past due for at least six months and the member must be living or working in a declared calamity area as of the date of the disaster attested through an Affidavit of Residency. Members granted any final benefit claim prior to the LRP availment period and those who committed fraud against the SSS are disqualified from the program.

Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph/sss/appmanager/viewArticle.jsp?page=NR2016_022

PHILHEALTH INSURANCE CARD IS A VALID GOVERNMENT ID

The PVC-type Health Insurance Card (HIC) issued to PhilHealth members in the Formal Economy and Informal Sector on a voluntary basis at a cost of Php 90.00 is a duly recognized valid government-issued identification card which should be honored in all transactions requiring the verification of a person’s identity.

The same ID may also be presented in PhilHealth accredited providers in lieu of the Member’s Data Record (MDR) together with a properly accomplished Claim Form 1 (CF-1) during benefit availment. However, Informal Sector members are still required to present a proof of payment to avail of benefits.

All concerned government agencies, as well as PhilHealth accredited collecting agents, are requested to recognize and include the said HIC in their list of honored IDs.

Read more on http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/advisories/2016/adv2016-0012.pdf