MANILA, Philippines — The advance payment of P600 to the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) by departing Filipino workers may have been suspended, but Vice President Jejomar Binay said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should be convinced that it will be beneficial to them in the long run.

“Yung P600 na yun, kung hindi ito ang pinakamaliit, isa sa pinakamaliit na babayaran ng aalis nating kababayan [The P600 initially required among OFWs is one of the lowest, if not the lowest, amount that a Filipino worker leaving the country would have to pay],” Binay said.

He, however, said he acknowledged that the problem with implementing the compulsory payment of P600 among Filipino workers set to leave the country had become a burden because they were also concerned of other expenditures before going abroad.

He said he will continue to explain the positive effect of OFWs’ advance payment to Pag-IBIG Fund in his upcoming dialogues with Filipino migrant organizations.

Binay ordered the suspension of Memorandum Circular No. 06 Series of 2010 in August that required OFWs a six-month advance payment to Pag-IBIG as a precondition to their departure.

Binay said that it would be more convenient to them in the long run, as he reminded OFWs that it is now compulsory that they become members of Pag-IBIG Fund. Membership to the Fund used to be optional among OFWs. “Food, education, and shelter are the essentials being dreamed of by our OFWs while they are working abroad,” Binay said.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Administrator (POEA) Jennifer Jardin–Manalili, in a briefing to the Vice President, assured that OFWs can continue paying their Pag-IBIG membership in Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) abroad under the Kabayanihan Program.

The program integrates various social protection services for OFWs such as access to services of Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System, Philhealth and POEA. The one-stop transaction system has been set up at POLOs abroad.

“Makakapagbayad ang ating mga kababayan para ma-continue nila ang membership nila [OFWs abroad can continue paying for their membership there],” Manalili said.