GSIS approves grant of emergency loans to QC residents hit by monsoon rains

MANILA, Philippines—The Government Service Insurance System has approved the grant of emergency loans to residents of Quezon City who were affected by the heavy monsoon rains and resulting floods in the second week of August.

Robert G. Vergara, GSIS president and general manager, said in a statement the decision was prompted by an ordinance the City Hall issued last September 6, which authorized civilian employees of the local government to apply for a calamity loan with the state funds including the Pag-IBIG Fund as well as other insurance and lending agencies.

Vergara explained that the emergency loan program for Quezon City had to be based on the ordinance because the city council did not declare a state of calamity.

“Members who may apply for the loan should come from the 60 barangays (villages) of Quezon City identified under the ordinance,” he said.

Members must submit to their respective agency authorized officer (AAO) a certification from the Punong Barangay that the applicant’s area of residence was affected by flooding.

Vergara said this additional requirement would ensure that qualified members might apply electronically using the GWAPS (GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System) kiosks.

Also, the GSIS will no longer require applicants to have paid contributions for the past six consecutive months.

However, borrowers should not have missed payments of mandatory social insurance contributions;  nor defaulted on any loan;  nor be on leave of absence without pay.

Members have until October 19, to apply for the P20,000 emergency loan.

This package for Quezon City follows a related board decision that made available a P10-billion emergency loan fund for members in areas devastated by flood and declared in state of calamity last August.

In August, Vergara said more than 500,000 GSIS members were residing or working in the calamity-declared areas.

Based on declarations from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,  Vergara said the loan would aid members residing or working in the National Capital Region, Cavite, Rizal, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Bulacan and Laguna.