Pag-IBIG HELPs: Health and Education Loan at 10.5% a Year
Pag-IBIG HELPs covers tuition and hospital bills at 10.5% a year with no processing fee. Who qualifies, how much you can borrow, and how to apply.
HELPs is Pag-IBIG’s Health and Education Loan Programs — a cash loan for tuition fees and medical expenses, for you or your family.
It works differently from Pag-IBIG’s other cash loans in one important way: the money does not come to you. Funds are credited directly to the accredited school or hospital. That constraint is also the source of its main advantage — members who pay through HELPs get discounts from partner institutions that they would not get paying cash.
What it costs
| Interest rate | 10.5% per year |
| Processing fee | None |
| Repayment terms | 6, 12, 24, or 36 months |
The absence of a processing fee is worth noting: Pag-IBIG states members receive the full loan amount with no deductions. At 10.5% the rate matches the Multi-Purpose Loan, so HELPs is not cheaper money — what it adds is the partner discount and the direct-to-institution payment.
If you need a small amount for general expenses instead, the SAFE Loan is currently cheaper at 5.95%, though it closes 8 September 2026 and caps at ₱10,000.
How much you can borrow
You can borrow up to 90% of your total Pag-IBIG Regular Savings. Pag-IBIG counts all three components toward that total:
- your monthly contributions,
- your employer’s contributions, and
- accumulated dividends
That last point matters and is often missed — dividends earned over the years raise your borrowing capacity, so the figure is usually higher than the sum of what you have paid in.
If you already have a Multi-Purpose Loan, Calamity Loan or HELPs, what you can borrow is 90% of your total Regular Savings minus the outstanding balance of that loan. The loans draw on the same pool.
You can check your Regular Savings total in Virtual Pag-IBIG — see our guide to checking Pag-IBIG contributions online.
Who qualifies
- An active Pag-IBIG member with at least one monthly contribution within the last six months
- At least 12 monthly membership savings under Pag-IBIG Regular Savings
- If you have an existing Multi-Purpose Loan, Calamity Loan or HELPs, those accounts must not be in default
- You must be availing from a HELPs partner school or hospital
That last condition is a hard gate, not a preference. HELPs cannot be used at an institution outside the accredited list.
Where you can use it
HELPs is specifically for tuition fees or medical expenses at accredited partners.
Pag-IBIG lists STI Colleges as its national partner, alongside local partners spread across the country — hospitals, diagnostic centres and schools including Capitol Medical Center, Fatima University Medical Center, De Vera Medical Center, Chiang Kai Shek College and Arriesgado College Foundation, among others.
The discounts vary considerably by partner and are set by the institution, not by Pag-IBIG. Published examples include 25% off tuition at one college, 22% off college tuition at another, 20% off CT scans and ultrasounds at several diagnostic centres, and percentage discounts on hospital bills net of PhilHealth and HMO.
Check the current list before you plan around it. Accreditation changes, and the discount attached to a given partner is specific to that partner — the official HELPs page carries the live, searchable list.
What you need to apply
- An accomplished Pag-IBIG HELPs Application Form
- A billing assessment from the HELPs partner school or hospital
- One (1) valid ID
- Proof of income — with separate requirement sets for locally employed, self-employed, and OFW members
The billing assessment is the step that sets the sequence: get the assessment from the school or hospital first, then apply. Pag-IBIG lends against that assessed amount.
How to apply and how to pay
Applications are handled at a Pag-IBIG branch — you visit the nearest branch to get your HELPs evaluation. Pag-IBIG’s published process for HELPs does not include a Virtual Pag-IBIG filing route, unlike the SAFE Loan and the Multi-Purpose Loan.
Repayment can be by salary deduction if you are employed and arrange it with your employer, or any time through accredited collecting partners and their online payment channels.
Renewing
You can renew once you have paid a set number of amortizations, and the threshold depends on the term you chose:
- 6-month term: after paying at least four monthly payments
- 12 months or longer: after six monthly payments
The outstanding balance of your existing loan — HELPs, Multi-Purpose Loan or Calamity Loan — is deducted from the proceeds of the new one.
Frequently asked questions
Does the money go to me or to the school?
To the school or hospital. Pag-IBIG credits HELPs funds directly to the accredited institution, which is why a billing assessment is required as part of the application.
Can I use HELPs at any school or hospital?
No. It must be a HELPs partner. Availing from an accredited partner school or hospital is one of the published qualifications, not an optional extra.
Is HELPs cheaper than the Multi-Purpose Loan?
The interest rate is the same — 10.5% a year. HELPs adds no processing fee and the partner discounts; the MPL gives you cash you can spend anywhere.
How much can I borrow if I already have an MPL?
90% of your total Pag-IBIG Regular Savings less the outstanding balance of that MPL.
Do employer contributions count toward my loanable amount?
Yes. Pag-IBIG counts your contributions, your employer’s contributions, and accumulated dividends in the Regular Savings total the 90% is computed on.
Details on this page are taken from Pag-IBIG Fund’s official HELPs page. Partner lists, discounts and terms change — confirm at pagibigfund.gov.ph, by phone at (02) 8724-4244, or at contactus@pagibigfund.gov.ph before applying. This page is a reference, not financial advice.