HDMF warns erring firms

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the Home  Development Mutual Fund yesterday said several private establishments are violating the law by not remitting the monthly premiums of their employees to Pag-IBIG.

Victoria dela Peña, Pag-IBIG vice president for Visayas, warned the erring businessmen to immediately settle their obligations otherwise criminal charges will be filed against them before the court.

Maria Corazon Cinco, chief of Pag-IBIG monitoring and enforcement division, listed at least 21 companies and business establishments in Cebu that were already sued for violation of the law.

Among the violators are some security agencies operating in Metro Cebu.

Pag-IBIG Cebu Fund manager Antonio Enriquez said the law provides that even if there was no remittance received by Pag-IBIG but the employee was deducted a monthly premium by the employer, he or she can still avail of the benefits offered by the fund.

Pag-IBIG Cebu officials encouraged the affected employees to file their formal complaints before their office.

As of November 2010 Pag-IBIG members in Cebu City Branch alone have already reached 323,362 or an increase of 47,387 compared to the total membership of 275,975 last year.

Pag-IBIG officials nationwide yesterday celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fund.

Under the newly-enacted Republic Act 9679 the employers are already mandated to enroll to the fund their employees, including the househelpers earning at least P1,000 a month. — THE FREEMAN