Jeepney Press / Lita Manalastas-Watanabe

Take it or Leave it! ADVICE NI TITA LITS

by Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe

OWN A HOUSE FOR ONLY JPY10,700 - 12,000?

Unbelievable? But it is true, and Tita Lits is here to help you accomplish your lifetime dream of a house for you and our loved ones in the Philippines!

My 'Dear Tita Lits' Readers:

These past almost six (6) months have been the most stressful for me during my 68 years of (mostly) blessed life in this earth.

I rushed home on Dec. 21 last year, soon after the pandemic protocols were eased by the Philippine government. It was because out of 6 siblings in our family, 4 of us (including myself) live/work overseas. My Ima (mother) cried saying, "Pota mate na ku, eko man akit deng ngang anak ku". She did not want to die not seeing all her 6 children, what with the uncertain situation of the covid infections where each of us, siguro, ay may kamag-anak, kaibigan, or kakilala lang, na namatay dahil sa covid. Cannot blame Ima - 88 years old na kasi.

Remember my column published in the winter issue of Jeepney Press (JP)? https://issuu.com/sunny12su nny12/docs/jeepney_press_1 15/s/14693216

Ang daming napagod na readers sa horrifying experience ko sa pag-uwi (partly because of my mistake of assuming everything was normal in Japan, including bus and train schedules, etc.).

Happy to report to you that when I flew back to Tokyo the day after the 'Pasiyam' of my Ima who passed away last April 30, 2022, and then flew to Manila again only a week or so, I found out lahat ng aking naging criticism and suggestions to the airport authorities were implemented!!! May nakakabasa din kayang mga Phil. government officials sa aking advice column? (Sana mayroon!).

Anyway, sa pagod at stress ko sa mga health problems not only of my Ima but my immediate family, na-apektuhan din ang health ko. I was always feeling very tired because of difficulty sleeping; lost my appetite; etc. In my family, lahat na-booster shot, and yet nagka-covid ulit ang marami.

Oh, sorry, I am digressing from my topic.

Last Apr. 24, 2022, a Sunday, Pag-IBIG Fund organized a webinar for Filipinos in Japan. (If you did not receive an invitation, please email our Cultural Section, Philippine Embassy in Tokyo: Cultural Section <cultural@philembassy.net> and request that you be included in their mailing list. They have a lot of interesting and educational posts about covid situation in Japan and what to do in case you get infected, some webinars for OFWs, things about our history, culture, etc.)

Two of my staff attended the webinar, and they reported back to our regular staff /compliance meeting what they learned about.

Tita Lits decided to start with the basic information on Housing Loan.

There are many Pag-IBIG services, including savings, but I know that all of us OFWs dream to have our own roof under our heads, kahit maliit lamang dahil iyon lang ang kaya nating bayaran.

I selected pertinent slides from the webinar, arranged them in such order na mas smooth ang flow ng information. I just lifted directly the slides from the webinar. (Thank you, Pag-ibig presentors/resource persons). - Over the Economic Housing Limit up to P6M – 90%

Who may apply?

Members should have the following to apply:

• At least 24 monthly membership savings (Pag-IBIG Regular Savings)

• Not more than 65 years old at the date of loan application

Where can you use or what can you buy with a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan?

Members can use the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan for the following:

• Residential lot* or adjoining residential lots purchase (maximum of 1,000 sq.m.)

• Residential house & lot, townhouse or condominium unit* purchase old or branch new, property mortgaged with Pag-IBIG Fund, adjoining houses/units inclusive of a parking lot

• Construction of house

• Improvement of house

• Refinance an existing housing loan

*plus cost of transfer

Apply for a Loan • Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL); • Housing Loan;

• Housing Loan Interest Repricing.

Apply for a Housing Loan How much can you borrow?

• Desired Loan Amount;

• Actual Need - Purchase of Lot and Residential Unit; Selling Price - Refinancing: Outstanding Loan Balance - House Construction and Home Improvement: Total Construction Cost.

• Capacity to Pay - 35% pf your Gross Monthly Income

• Loan to Appraisal Value Ratio - Up to the Economic Housing Limit - 95% and is not more than 70 years old at the date of loan maturity

Gross Monthly Income Requirement and Monthly Amortization based on Loan Amount

• Legal capacity to acquire and encumber real property in the Philippines

• No Pag-IBIG Housing Loan foreclosed, cancelled, bought back, or voluntarily surrendered

• If with existing Pag-IBIG Housing Loan or Short-Term Loan (STL), payments must be updated

Apply for a Short-Term Loan

File your Multi-Purpose Loan or Calamity Loan via Virtual Pag-IBIG by simply uploading clear photos of your loan application and its requirements.

You don’t need a Virtual Pag-IBIG account to apply. It’s safer, easier, and more convenient.

Available to members with a Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus or Landbank Cash Card

Pag-IBIG Multi Purpose Loan

• Educational Expenses

• Health and Wellness

• Minor Home Improvement

• Other Purpose

Now, with a 3-Year Payment Option

Calamity Loan

Convenient Ways to Pay your PAG-IBIG Housing Loan:

• Virtual Pag-IBIG

• Post-dated Checks

• Collection Servicing Agreement (CSA) or via a salary deduction and remittance agreement with your company

• Accredited Collecting Partners’ Outlets and their Online Payment Facilities

• Auto-debit Arrangement (ADA) with Pag-IBIG’s partners (banks; non-banks)

Enrollment

Payment Partner in Japan

AUB (Asia United Bank)*

VENTAJA*

*Above are two of several choices. Both are partnered with SPEED Money Transfer Japan K.K.

*Feel free to call Tita Lits, or Henry, Aloy or Joshua @ Tel. 03-6869-8555.

Tita Lits

Isabelilta Manalastas-Watanabe

Jeepney Press