Important Government Benefit Schemes Available In The Philippines Right Now

Much like many countries all over the world, the Philippine government provides a lot of agencies and programs that help provide important government benefits to help secure the welfare of its citizens.

Working employees can take great advantage of having these government benefits, especially with the significantly lower cost of living in the country. With the Philippine government working hard to take all possible measures to uplift the country, these government benefits will surely be useful to millions of Filipinos.

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Learn more about the important government benefit schemes available in the Philippines right now.

  • SSS
  • Pag-IBIG Fund
  • Maternity and Paternity Leave
  • How to Maximize These Government Benefits
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SSS

The SSS or Social Security System is a Philippine government-run program that provides income security and protection against financial hardship, especially during the height of the pandemic and the current inflation.

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It is an important government benefit as it provides a wide range of services and benefits to many of its members. These services include retirement pensions, death benefits, health insurance, loan programs, disability benefits, and more.

It even offers financial assistance to many of its members, especially in times of need. The program is designed to give the citizens and employees of a company to have access to a secure and sustainable source of income when they reach retirement years.

The various loan programs also help members meet their financial needs during emergencies.

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PhilHealth

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or popularly known as Philhealth is the country’s government-owned health insurance company that offers a wide range of services for its members.

Many of these services usually cover hospitalization based on the amount incurred. They also cover any in-patient benefits provided that they are in a Philhealth hospital partner. There are also outpatient benefits including hemodialysis, radiotherapy, cancer treatments, and even day surgeries that can be covered using Philhealth.

It is always important for citizens to continue supporting this government benefit by paying their monthly contributions on time.

Pag-IBIG Fund

The Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG fund is another important government benefit program in the Philippines.

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Established in 1978, the program aims to help citizens save for long-term goals that will help them buy a new home or launch a new business. The Pag-IBIG is funded through mandatory monthly contributions from both employers and employees and it can also be voluntarily done by individuals.

There are a lot of services that the Pag-IBIG fund covers which include housing loans, short-term loans, savings accounts, and more. The fund also provides insurance coverage to its members in the event of death and disability.

It is one of the most important government benefit programs as it provides Filipinos access to low-interest housing and other loans.

GSIS

The Government Service Insurance System or GSIS is another Philippine government agency that provides financial and social protection to employees and their families.

It was first established in the mid-1930s to offer benefits like retirement and death benefits as well as loans and insurance. It is one of the most important government benefits as it provides a financial safety net for many government employees which ensures a steady income after their retirement.

This also protects from financial hardship by providing its members with loan assistance to meet various needs like home repairs and medical assistance.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

One of the many government benefits in the Philippines is maternity and paternity leave. Both married and unmarried women in the Philippines are entitled to maternity leave for at least 60 days for their first four months after childbirth including miscarriage.

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The number of days will depend on their cases such as a woman having a C-section, ectopic pregnancy, or any other high-risk pregnancy cases will most likely be entitled to longer maternity leave.

Married male workers will also have paternity leave for seven days but will only be approved if they are living with their spouse at the time of delivery or miscarriage.

Solo parents can also enjoy these benefits to fulfill their parental duties.

Christmas Bonus and 13th Month Pay

The Philippines is a predominantly Christian and Catholic country which means that traditional Christian holidays are also observed. Christmas usually starts around the month of September and you can already see decorations as early as late September.

Employers often provide incentives to their employees especially during the holiday season through a Christmas bonus. These are monetary benefits given to employees and are generally worth a month’s salary depending on the employer.

Employers are also mandated to provide a 13th month pay to employees given before Christmas day as part of the government benefits to all working employees in the Philippines. The 13th month pay is worth a month’s salary of the employee.

How to Maximize These Government Benefits

Having these government benefits will truly help you in case of emergencies but not a lot of people take it very seriously.

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Some usually just pay their monthly contribution because the government mandates it but there are actual benefits to them. One way to maximize your government benefits is to do your own research. This allows you to discover many other options that can help you.

Many government agencies look for ways or new programs for you to avail yourself of. They often provide such information on their official website and if you are eligible for the program, you can always visit their office or the website to apply.

Paying Your Monthly Contributions

One of the best ways to maximize your government benefits in the Philippines is to simply pay your monthly contribution. It is also a lot easier to do so since your employers are tasked to do this for you.

Many government services are already often taken out of your salary every month so you don’t have to worry about going to different offices just to pay your dues. When you pay your monthly contributions regularly, you can always expect to have more options.

This also lets you avail of different loans and other financial services from the government to help you in case of emergencies. With Pag-IBIG, it will help you get a decent home when you can pay your monthly contribution religiously.

Conclusion

These government benefit programs aim to help the Filipino people in the long run. By offering these government benefit schemes to the entire people, they get to be more financially secure in the future.