City officials recently requested the 128 barangays to support Pag-IBIG membership as one of the requirements in the application for the issuance of barangay clearance.
Under Resolution NO. 559, series of 2023, local legislators stated that on July 5, 2023, Pag-IBIG Fund–Baguio City branch initiated before the Office of Councilor Michael L. Lawana the dismal number of memberships to Pag-IBIG as compared to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation among others and it was agreed to stimulate memberships to Pag-IBIG in the city through the barangays by urging membership in the issuance of barangay clearance.
Under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9679, it is the policy of the State to establish, develop, promote and integrate a nationwide sound and viable tax exempt mutual provident savings suitable to the needs of the employed and other earning groups and to motivate them to better plan and provide for their housing needs, by the membership in the Home Development Mutual Fund, with mandatory contributory support of the employers in the spirit of social justice and the pursuit of national development.
A member is considered as any person coverable under the law whether on a mandatory or voluntary basis and pays the mandated contributions.
Further, the implementing rules and regulations provide that the membership in the Fund shall be mandatory for all employees who are compulsorily covered by the SSS, all employees who are subject to mandatory coverage by the GSIS regardless of their employment status; uniformed members of the Armed forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine National Police and Filipinos employed by foreign-based employers.
On the other hand, persons who are at least 18 years old but not more than 65 years old and are not subject to mandatory coverage may be covered by the Fund on a voluntary basis, subject to such terms and conditions, provided, that any foreign government, international organization or their wholly-owned instrumentality employing workers in the country or employing Filipinos outside of the country may enter into an agreement with the Fund for the inclusion of their employees as members of the Fund.
The council stipulated that a barangay clearance refers to any and all documents issued by the barangay with or without corresponding fees as defined in their ordinances relative to or in relation to the issuance of business permit and locational clearance by the city/municipality or any other permit as may be required.
