High court ties up with Pag-IBIG

(UPDATE) THE Supreme Court has entered into a partnership with the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) to provide judiciary employees access to affordable housing.

«This institution is a bastion of rights, and it is only fitting that we lead by example in upholding and advancing the rights of those within the institution — including, through this undertaking, the right to adequate housing,» said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo after the signing on Tuesday of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Under the MoU, which was initiated by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the high court undertakes to implement a Group Sale of Real and Other Properties Acquired (ROPA) Program where it shall facilitate and assist Supreme Court employees in identifying their preferred property from the list of acquired assets (AAs) or home-matching among available inventories of Pag-IBIG Fund's accredited developers.

Pag-IBIG will also extend individual housing loans to qualified Supreme Court employees, subject to its prevailing housing loan policies and guidelines. In line with this, a Collection Servicing Agreement will be set up with the high tribunal for the collection of the monthly housing loan amortization of its employees who joined the group sale.

Meanwhile, Senior Associate Justice Leonen pointed out that the project does not entail any fund use from the Judiciary and avails of the usual programs of Pag-IBIG for the entire government. He also cited the timeliness of this development as the high court anticipates its relocation in the coming year.

«Housing is a very important human need and we hope that while you are with the Judiciary, you are able to actively build your own in a place that you desire so that you have something to leave for your children and grandchildren,» said Leonen.