Pag-IBIG Housing Loans Surge 15% in H1, Driven by Low-Income Financing

MANILA, Philippines — Housing loan releases by the Home Mutual Development Fund, or Pag-IBIG Fund, surged by 15 percent to P69.19 billion in the first half of the year, up from P60.25 billion in the same period last year. This significant growth was primarily driven by a substantial increase in socialized housing loans under the government's Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program (Expanded 4PH). The agency reported that a total of 43,051 housing units were covered by home loans from January to June. Pag-IBIG said socialized home loans for minimum wage and low-income members more than doubled to P6.7 billion by end-June, with units financed soaring 132 percent to 6,601, bolstering overall loan growth. Socialized housing loans now make up 15 percent of total units financed by the agency, showing the growing share of low-income borrowers in the agency’s overall lending. Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the strong first half performance reflects government-private sector collaboration. “The sharp rise in socialized housing loans shows that our efforts to prioritize the unserved and underserved sectors, particularly minimum wage and low-income Filipinos, are gaining real traction,” Aliling said, who also leads the 11-member Board of Trustees. Pag-IBIG officials noted that demand for affordable financing remains robust as seen in the first semester. To sustain momentum, the fund continues to offer its three percent subsidized rate for eligible socialized housing borrowers, alongside promotional rates of 4.5 percent and 5.75 percent for low-cost to open-market loans. The maximum loan ceiling was recently hiked to P10 million. “We have shown that government can act by offering more affordable loans, a higher loan ceiling and faster processing. We now look forward to working even more closely with the private sector, especially our developer partners, to build more quality homes at prices our members can afford,” Aliling added. Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Marilene Acosta said the gains in socialized housing showed that the government’s flagship housing program and the agency’s subsidized three percent rate are already helping more minimum wage and low-income members become homeowners.