A Pag-Ibig claimant’s woes

I AM a 68-year-old widow. My son died in July 2013 from a terminal illness. After some time, when our sorrow became somehow bearable and at the instance of my daughter-in-law, I decided to attend to his death benefits.

And this is what I went through:

April 22, 2015—I went to Pag-Ibig

Ayala to get a list of required documents for death claim.

May 22, 2015—I brought all documents on the list to Pag-Ibig Ayala but was given another list of additional requirements: certifications from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

May 26, 2015—I brought all documents again to Pag-Ibig Ayala and was told to get a new NSO death certificate, this time of my husband. I was told to submit all documents to Pag-Ibig Imus because I live in faraway Cavite and it takes me three hours of travel by bus on

a good day.

May 28, 2015—I went to Pag-Ibig Imus and submitted all documents, photocopies and originals. I was asked to go out and photocopy the documents again. The photocopies were then stamped “Received” and “Original copies verified.” I was told everything was OK now and to follow up the release of my claim in 10-15 days since processing will take that long.

June 11, 2015—I called Pag-Ibig Imus but was asked to follow up my claim in Makati. Anyone who has tried calling the Pag-Ibig phone lines will understand when I say that it is not easy doing that; to say getting through with your call is extremely difficult is an understatement.

June 17, 2015—I went to Pag-Ibig Buendia, was directed to the fifth floor, and got a number (no senior citizen lane). When my number was called more than four hours later, I was told I should have gone to the second floor. At the second floor, a certain Rose Binamira took out the files I submitted in Imus and asked to see the original copies again PLUS my marriage certificate from the NSO.

June 18, 2015—With my NSO marriage certificate in hand, I brought all the documents including the originals to Pag-Ibig for her inspection. I was asked to photocopy them all over again, this time two sets. Then she saw another missing requirement: an affidavit from two disinterested persons attesting to the fact that my son was the same person in Pag-Ibig’s records. Then still another requirement: I have to go to Pag-Ibig Shaw and get

a certificate of foreclosure from that branch for the mortgaged property

of my son.

June 23, 2015—I went to Pag-Ibig Shaw. I was told that branch doesn’t issue certificates of foreclosure.

In my opinion, these Pag-Ibig personnel I had the misfortune to deal with are just there for the job; they have no sympathy at all for the public they serve. In fact, they seem to get a perverse delight in the hardships they cause the public to suffer.

I am not the only one who has been through this ordeal. Ask others.

—MARLENE DAVID,

[email protected]