Vice President Jejomar Binay has awarded benefits from the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG) to the relatives of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in a freak accident in Hong Kong.
Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and chairman of the Pag-Ibig Board of Trustees, awarded P113,000 to Merlita Lor, sister of OFW Lourdes Rabe, a domestic helper working in Hong Kong who died in April.
Rabe was killed when a woman, who was apparently committing suicide, jumped from a building and landed on her. Police said Rabe was crushed by the impact and lost consciousness. She died after being rushed to a hospital.
The benefits included Rabe’s total contributions and dividends accrued since 2005 when she became a Pag-IBIG member, amounting to P37,000; P6,000 death benefit Pag-IBIG gives to its deceased members, and P70,000 as reimbursement of Rabe’s premiums from May to December this year.
The Vice President also turned over a deed to the house Rabe bought in Marilao, Bulacan, through a Pag-IBIG housing loan in 2009.
“(Si Rabe) ay nakabili ng bahay worth (P567,000), at sapagkat mayroong insurance na isinasama ‘yan, ‘yong dapat bayaran pa, ay bayad na ngayon — fully paid,” he said.
Under Pag-IBIG’s Mortage Redemption Insurance, which is included in the monthly amortizations for housing loans, loans are considered fully paid upon the death of the member.
The housing czar also stressed the importance of maintaining a good standing as a Pag-IBIG member.
“Madali pong naayos ang pagproseso sa mga dokumento — hindi na po nagkaproblema — sapagkat si Lourdes ay nagbabayad ng tama at nasa oras,” he said.
“At kapag in good standing ka, eligible ka sa lahat ng mga benepisyo na maari mong makuha bilang miyembro,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lor thanked Binay and Pag-Ibig officials for the quick processing of her sister’s benefits.
“Masaya po kami at nagpapasalamat dahil naibigay agad ang benipisyo ng kapatid ko at hindi na po nagtagal ang pag-proseso,” Lor said.