GSIS grants P4.14B in loan assistance to gov’t workers, pensioners in April

MANILA, Philippines — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has released a total of P4.1 billion in loans to some 60,000 government workers and pensioners nationwide as of April.

GSIS president and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said Monday that of the P4.1 billion, the agency has already disbursed P3.48 billion in various loans (conso-loan, policy loan and pension loan) to a total of 25,198 GSIS members and pensioners nationwide from March 27 until April 30.

In addition to regular loan programs, the state pension fund agency has also opened the COVID-19 Emergency Loan program to its 2.1 million members and pensioners last April 13.

“I am very proud to say that in just 17 days, from April 13 to April 30, GSIS has granted P664 million in emergency loan to some 33,000 borrowers nationwide,” Macasaet said in a statement.

Earlier in May, the GSIS also enhanced this loan program for it to have relaxed loan eligibility rules.

“Under the enhanced program, we now allow members who have in-default loan accounts (with arrears of more than six months) to renew their emergency loan. We have also reduced the paid premium requirement from six months to only three months,” said Macasaet.

“However, since this is the first time for GSIS to offer the emergency loan on a national scale, there may be some delays due to systems maintenance activities. I am grateful for the patience and understanding of our stakeholders during this time,” he added.

Macasaet added that since system enhancements are still in progress, members and pensioners whose emergency loans were renewed and granted from April 13 to 30 may renew their loans starting May 11.

To avail of the Enhanced COVID-19 Emergency Loan, GSIS members and pensioners should email two requirements to GSIS: duly-accomplished emergency loan application form which can be downloaded from the GSIS website, and a photo of the borrower holding their GSIS Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) card or temporary eCard.

Macasaet also said that if the applicant’s UMID or eCard has been lost, the photo of the borrower holding his or her two valid IDs and a clear photo of the two valid IDs should be submitted.

The application form and requirements must be sent to the designated email address according to the members’ place of work or pensioners’ residence: [email protected] (for borrowers in NCR including Quezon City and Cavite); [email protected] (North Luzon); [email protected] (South Luzon); [email protected] (Visayas) or [email protected] (Mindanao).

According to Macasaet, members may also apply for emergency loan through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosks located in all GSIS branches, Department of Education offices, provincial capitols, city or municipal halls, and selected SM and Robinsons malls nationwide. Pensioners may only apply via email.

He said that once the loan is approved, the proceeds will be directly credited to the Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) card or temporary eCard account of the borrower.

EDV