MANDALUYONG CITY – BITAG, the IpaBITAGmo Inc. (IBMI-NGO), PAG-IBIG Fund Executives, and Congresswoman Marivic Co-Pilar gathered for an open dialogue on July 2, 2026, at the PAG-IBIG Office in Mandaluyong discussing homebuyer experiences and exploring ways to strengthen homeownership support.
BOUGHT BUT BURDENED
Owning a home is an aspiration that many Filipinos include in their vision of a stable and comfortable life. Through PAG-IBIG Fund, homeownership becomes more attainable with their affordable housing opportunities.
However, some buyers encountered unexpected challenges in their homeownership journey – challenges that became some of the concerns brought before BITAG.
Hopeful homebuyers found their acquired assets occupied by illegal occupants, costing them to seek legal assistance to regain possession of their properties.
Others discovered homes that needed major repairs or carried outstanding utility bills, unaware of the properties’ full condition when they participated in the bidding process.
WHAT BITAG FOUND
After sitting down with PAG-IBIG Fund, BITAG learned that the agency has measures in place to address these issues, such as:
- Encouraging prospective buyers to visit and inspect properties before choosing and paying for a unit;
- Providing legal assistance to buyers; and
- Offering buyers an option to discontinue their payments or apply for a refund, particularly to those who no longer wish to proceed with the purchase.
PAG-IBIG Fund also explained that the original owners are given maximum tolerance – extensive consideration – before their properties are made available for acquisition. Included is a one-year redemption period that gives delinquent owners an opportunity to reclaim their properties.
TURNING DIALOGUE INTO ACTION
Taking the conversation a step further was a legislative proposal aimed at streamlining the housing eviction process, which currently proceeds through the regular court system.
IBMI-NGO committed to pursuing legislation that would establish a special court through which government housing agencies, including PAG-IBIG Fund, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), and other housing agencies, could apply for automatic eviction after the redemption period.
Under a proposed special court, applications for warrants of eviction could be acted on immediately, allowing buyers to take possession of their properties sooner.
FROM TABLE TO HOUSE
Carrying the proposal into the legislative process is Congresswoman Marivic Co-Pilar, Chairperson of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, who will file it as a bill in the House of Representatives.
Should the proposal secure approval, it will undergo Senate deliberations before it can be enacted into law.
More than addressing homebuyer challenges, the dialogue demonstrated that when institutions share a commitment to transform concerns into action, they can build a more secure homeownership journey for Filipinos.
