Makati, September 19, 2023 — In a
move that signals potential
changes to the extra-judicial foreclosure publishing
landscape, key officials
from the Prime Alliance of
Publishers, Editors, & Reporters (PAPER) Inc. and
Pag-IBIG Fund gathered
for a significant courtesy
meeting yesterday afternoon. The dialogue was
convened at the office
of the Pag-IBIG Fund in
Petron Megaplaza, Makati.
A Roster of Key
PAPER (Ph) Meets Pag-IBIG
Fund Officials for Strategic
Dialogue
Players
Leading the PAPER delegation were
Nena E. Mallari, Chairman Emeritus; Lourdes M.
Aclan, CALABARZON Regional Director; and Joy V.
Estrellado, Vice President.
On the Pag-IBIG side, the
delegates were initially received by Atty. Ronaldo A.
Geron, the organization’s
Vice President and Corporate Board Secretary.
Subsequently, discussions were facilitated by
Ms. Nanette G. T. Abilay,
acting Vice President of
Pag-IBIG’s Home Lending
Operation for the Luzon
Group.
Focus on Foreclosure Publishing
The conversation
between the two parties
concentrated on enhancing the efficiency and standardization of publishing
extra-judicial foreclosures.
PAPER, representing a
network of publishers,
emphasized the need for
a uniform rate for publication fees across the nation. They presented this
proposal in light of both
the operational expenses
faced by publishers and
the fees deemed permissible by Pag-IBIG Fund.
PAPER Batangas Chapter President,
Joenald M. Rayos, though
not present at the meeting,
previously gave light to the
questions of the publishers regarding this matter.
A Unique Quirk
While the substance of the dialogue was
undoubtedly serious, an
interesting sidebar is Atty.
Ronaldo A. Geron’s moniker as the “Yellow Pen
Man.” The title refers to his
unique claim to fame —
owning the world’s largest
collection of yellow fountain pens.
Future Implications
The successful
convening of PAPER and
Pag-IBIG Fund officials is
seen as a stepping stone
to potential policy adjustments that could reshape
the extra-judicial foreclosure publishing industry.
By contemplating a standard rate for publication
fees, the parties aim to establish a harmonious and
more efficient operational
framework that benefits
publishers, financial institutions, and the general
public alike.
Next Steps
While this was
merely an initial meeting, both PAPER Inc. and
Pag-IBIG Fund expressed
commitment to future discussions. Stakeholders in
the publishing and lending
sectors will undoubtedly
keep a close eye on developments arising from this
high-level dialogue
