Pag-IBIG, SMDC partner as more developers widen home options under Marcos’ Expanded 4PH

by Info @Brand Zone | September 8, 2026

Pag-IBIG Fund and SM Development Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding Sept. 8 to widen the range of SMDC homes that qualified members may purchase using Pag-IBIG Housing Loans. The MOU also covers preferential pricing on selected units, buyer education and planned homebuyer programs.

The partnership advances efforts by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Pag-IBIG Fund to strengthen private-sector participation under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program. These efforts make projects from more of the country’s leading developers available through Pag-IBIG financing, giving members, particularly middle-income Filipino workers, greater access to quality, well-located homes that suit their families and fit their budgets.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Board of Trustees, said SMDC’s participation shows how the agency’s expanded and affordable financing is translating into wider home choices for members.

“The direction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is clear. We want more Filipino workers and their families to have a real opportunity to own a home in the city, particularly one closer to where they work. With Pag-IBIG Housing Loans now up to ₱10 million for each qualified member, more Filipino workers can choose from SMDC properties and pay for their chosen home at affordable rates over time,” Aliling said. “This is what Expanded 4PH is achieving by bringing stronger government support and growing private-sector participation together so that more Filipinos can have a home of their own.”

Under the MOU, SMDC will offer preferential pricing to qualified Pag-IBIG Housing Loan borrowers on selected units in participating Pag-IBIG-accredited projects. The current accredited selection includes Coast Residences and ICE Tower in Pasay City, Spring Residences in Parañaque City, selected phases of Hill Residences in Quezon City, and SMDC Cheerful Homes 1 and 2 in Pampanga.

SMDC is also working to broaden the selection, with additional developments in Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Pasay City and other growth areas undergoing Pag-IBIG accreditation. The projects under review span SMDC Heights, SMDC Nature and SMDC Symphony Homes, covering high-rise, mid-rise and house-and-lot developments.

SMDC is one of the country’s leading residential developers, with a portfolio of communities designed around how Filipinos live and a long-term purpose of helping build a nation of homeowners.

“Homeownership is too important for any one institution to address alone. Making it more attainable requires strong partners with a shared commitment to Filipino families,” said Jeffrey C. Lim, president of SM Prime and SM Development Corp.

“Government plays a critical role in making home financing more affordable, while developers like SMDC must provide homes and communities that deliver lasting value. With DHSUD, Pag-IBIG Fund and SMDC working together, Filipino homebuyers can get more of what they need: better financing, the right space, a good location, convenient access and a community where they can build their lives.”

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the partnership strengthens the agency’s efforts to make suitable homes more affordable for members.

“Affordable financing truly serves its purpose when our members also have suitable homes to choose from. Through our partnership with SMDC, more Filipino workers can choose a home based on their family’s needs, preferred location and budget, then finance it affordably through Pag-IBIG. Our promotional rates of 4.5% on loans of up to ₱4.9 million and 5.75% on loans above ₱4.9 million and up to ₱10 million make financing their chosen home even more affordable and are available to qualified borrowers until the end of the year,” Acosta said. “This is part of our comprehensive approach to helping our members own a home. We do more than provide affordable financing. We also work closely with developers and other stakeholders so that more homes are built to meet the needs and budgets of Filipino workers.”

Aliling and SMDC Executive Vice President Grace Sta. Ana served as witnesses as Acosta and Lim signed the MOU in Makati City. Also present from Pag-IBIG were Deputy Chief Executive Officers Alexander Hilario G. Aguilar, Benjamin R. Felix Jr., along with DHSUD Senior Undersecretary Eduardo P. Robles, Jr. SM Prime and SMDC officials in attendance included Jessica T. Sy, Vice President and Head of Design, Innovation and Strategy; Marking C. Que, Senior Vice President and Head of Customer Support; Carlo O. Alampay, Vice President and Head of Regulatory Compliance; Susan G. Nicdao, Vice President and Head of Project Development for SMDC Nature; Atty. Mena R. Ojeda Jr., Vice President and Head of Legal Affairs and Risk Management; and Sheila Ching, Assistant Vice President for Project Development and Management.

SMDC is the latest leading developer to enter a housing partnership with Pag-IBIG.

Pag-IBIG keeps home loans affordable amid higher lending rates

by Info @Brand Zone | September 3, 2026

Pag-IBIG Fund continues to make homeownership more affordable for Filipino workers under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (Expanded 4PH) Program by maintaining low housing loan rates amid a lending environment expected to push commercial borrowing costs higher. 

The agency emphasized its commitment to keep homeownership within reach through a subsidized 3 percent rate for qualified socialized housing borrowers, special promotional rates and a higher ₱10-million housing loan limit. Pag-IBIG is also expanding partnerships with more of the country’s leading residential developers to offer members more suitable homes. Together, these measures assure members that affordable financing remains available as they continue pursuing their plans to buy a home. 

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, who also chairs the Pag-IBIG Board of Trustees, said these measures give Filipino workers a practical and affordable way to continue pursuing homeownership even if commercial loans become more expensive.

 “With commercial housing loans expected to become more expensive, the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan becomes all the more important in helping Filipino workers continue with their plans to own a home. Our members can always rely on Pag-IBIG for affordable financing. With our low rates and housing loans of up to ₱10 million, they can choose a home that suits their family, fits their budget and can be paid for affordably over time,” Aliling said. “And that is what President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed us to accomplish under the Expanded 4PH. To ensure that every Filipino worker has a fair chance to own a home through financing that remains affordable and within reach.” 

Aliling’s assurance stems from Pag-IBIG Fund’s continuing efforts to keep home financing affordable under Expanded 4PH. Qualified socialized housing borrowers may avail themselves of the subsidized rate of 3 percent, while members purchasing homes above the socialized housing ceiling may qualify for the promotional rate of 4.5 percent on loans of up to ₱4.9 million, or 5.75 percent on loans above ₱4.9 million and up to ₱10 million. By enabling more members to continue with their plans to buy a home, these affordable financing options also sustain genuine homebuyer demand and help stimulate activity across the housing industry. 

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta, meanwhile, said the agency builds on this homebuyer demand through a comprehensive approach that combines affordable financing with partnerships with leading residential developers. This widens members’ housing choices and gives developers access to a broader market of qualified buyers. 

“When Filipino workers have access to affordable financing, developers gain a stronger market for the homes they build. By partnering with more of the country’s leading residential developers, we help sustain this demand while giving our members more homes to choose from, so they can find one that suits their family and fits their budget,” Acosta said. 

Pag-IBIG recently entered into housing partnerships with Avida Land Corp. and Amaia Land Corp., two residential brands of Ayala Land, to identify projects and units that qualified members may purchase through Pag-IBIG Housing Loans, with more of the country’s leading residential developers expected to follow. These partnerships complement the agency’s nationwide network of nearly 500 accredited developers, further expanding the housing options available to members and connecting the industry with more qualified homebuyers. 

Acosta added that Pag-IBIG’s strong financial position, built through the prudent management of members’ savings, allows the agency to maintain low housing loan rates over the long term. 

“Our members work hard for every peso they save with Pag-IBIG, and we manage their funds with the highest degree of care and prudence. This disciplined approach keeps Pag-IBIG financially strong and allows us to offer housing loans at rates our members can afford while continuing to protect and grow their savings,” Acosta added. 

Pag-IBIG Fund’s performance during the first seven months of 2026 reflects this strength. Members collectively saved ₱127.29 billion, while housing loan collections reached ₱60.80 billion, up 35 percent and 11 percent, respectively, from the same period last year. Housing loan releases rose 19 percent to ₱84.36 billion, financing 52,374 homes, up 13 percent. Socialized housing posted the strongest growth, with ₱8.17 billion financing 7,803 units, representing increases of 119 percent in loan value and 131 percent in homes financed. (END)     

Pag-IBIG housing-related assets top ₱1 trillion as more members gain homes

by Info @Brand Zone | August 25, 2026

Pag-IBIG Fund’s gross housing-related assets reached ₱1.01 trillion as of July 31, 2026, as its housing portfolio continued to grow with more financing extended to members buying, building and improving their homes, as well as to institutions supporting housing development.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, who chairs the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said the growth reflects Pag-IBIG Fund’s continuing role in expanding homeownership while supporting activity across the housing sector and the broader economy.

“Pag-IBIG Fund’s performance continues to reflect its commitment to achieving the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program to make affordable homeownership accessible to more Filipinos.

“Reaching more than ₱1 trillion in housing-related assets is an important milestone. It means more financing is reaching Filipino homebuyers, while qualified developers and institutions receive greater support to provide housing. As investments in housing grow, they also help stimulate the industry, support construction and related sectors, create jobs and contribute to broader economic growth,” Aliling said.

Of Pag-IBIG Fund’s ₱1.01 trillion in gross housing-related assets, ₱971.39 billion, or about 96%, consists of housing-related loans, while ₱38.47 billion consists of other housing-related assets. For members, much of this represents financing that has helped Filipino workers buy, build or improve homes.

The emphasis on housing is built into Pag-IBIG Fund’s mandate, which requires at least 70% of its investible funds to be invested in housing. This enables members’ pooled savings to finance homes and housing development while generating earnings that help protect and grow their funds.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the trillion-peso housing portfolio reflects the very meaning of Pag-IBIG, Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno, with members’ savings helping fellow members achieve homeownership.

“This is Pag-IBIG at work. The savings of millions of Filipino workers are pooled together and put to productive use, much of it to help fellow members have homes of their own. As we continue supporting President Marcos’ housing agenda, what matters most is that more members are able to turn their hard-earned income into homes and assets that can provide greater security for their families,” Acosta said.

“For a member paying a housing loan, each amortization brings that member closer to fully owning a home. Over time, that home becomes more than a place to live. It is an asset that families can improve, preserve and pass on to the next generation. This is how homeownership can help our members build lasting value and greater financial security,” she added.

Pag-IBIG Fund also continued to expand financing for both the end-user and institutional housing markets. From January to July 2026, housing and wholesale loan releases reached ₱88.84 billion, up 12% from ₱72.61 billion during the same period last year, reflecting continued demand for home financing and funding support for housing development.

To widen access further under Expanded 4PH, Pag-IBIG Fund increased the maximum Pag-IBIG Housing Loan to ₱10 million per borrower, payable over terms of up to 30 years, while continuing to provide a 3% subsidized housing loan rate for qualified low-income borrowers. It also offers promotional rates of 4.5% for loans above the socialized housing price ceiling up to ₱4.9 million, and 5.75% for loans above ₱4.9 million up to ₱10 million, until Dec. 31, 2026.