Pag-IBIG launches new loyalty card

CEBU, Philippines — Following its initial release in Metro Manila last month, Pag-IBIG Fund yesterday launched the improved version of the Loyalty Card in Cebu in an event held at the Radisson Blu Cebu.

Officially unveiled by Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti for the Visayas area, the new card dubbed as the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus now comes with the added feature of a cash card where borrowers can receive the proceeds of their multi-purpose loans, MP2 dividends, and other benefits.

“We want Pag-IBIG Fund to mean more to people and not just a mandatory savings institution or a lending corporation. We want Pag-IBIg Fund to be present in every aspect of the Filipino worker’s life, thus the Loyalty Card was born,” Moti said.

He added that one of the main motivations and measures that they consider when launching a new program is on how it would benefit the members, the Filipino workers.

“Over the past three years we have reached all-time highs in terms of the number of members who have availed of our loan programs. Last year, we received over 3 million loan applications from the more than 14 million active members. However, despite such record breaking achievements, we have remained unsatisfied,” he said.

He said what Pag-IBIG Fund wants is for all of its members to feel the benefits of being a Pag-IBIG member.

By 2011-2012, Moti said that they thought of ways on how the Fund can touch base with its members. They conducted surveys and four major needs were highlighted: education, food/groceries, health/hospitals, and shelter.

He said the Loyalty Card became an ally for the budget conscious Filipino workers. “Savings in Pag-IBIG Fund is no longer just a mandatory contribution that they will get after 20 years. With the loyalty card, savings is attained in every purchase through our partner merchants,” Moti said.

Aside from the discount features, the new loyalty card can now also be used as a debit card for cashless transactions and is equipped with an EMV chip, the same technology used in debit and credit cards, to ensure security of transactions.

The Fund has inked partnership deals with Union Bank of the Philippines and Asia United Bank to enable the cash card feature of the card. The agency is looking to partner with more banks in the future.

Moti said this is also in line with the call of President Duterte for government to use electronic means for easier and faster transactions.

Moreover, to make the availment of the card easier for members, the card is printed on site, which means members can get their card in any Pag-IBIG Fund branch on the same day when they applied.

“With today’s launch, the card is now available in our Cebu-Ayala branch, Cebu-Colon branch, Mactan Branch and Mandaue Branch. The card is now also available in more areas in Visayas, specifically in our branches in Danao, Dumaguete, Talisay and Toledo. We will make the card available in more areas across the country in the coming weeks. By October, the Loyalty Card Plus should be available nationwide,” Moti said.

“Card holders will enjoy the rewards and big discounts from our more than 300 partner establishments. With discounts ranging from 5 to 50 percent, cardholders can save on groceries, fuel, tuition fees, hospital bills, medicines, and even restaurant and travel expenses, “ Moti said.

The card can also be used to access the fund’s Virtual Pag-IBIG, an online service that will allow its members to conduct transactions anytime, anywhere, once it officially goes online. (FREEMAN)