GSIS releases insurance benefits to kin of gov’t frontliners who died of COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has started releasing life insurance benefits plus the additional P500,000 benefit to families of government frontliners who succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In a statement on Tuesday, GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Macasaet said the agency has released a total of P7.8 million in life insurance benefits plus an additional P2 million under the “Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners” (BFF) program to the families of four government frontliners.

The state pension agency is currently validating the insurance claims of 18 other families. Macasaet vowed that the GSIS will release the insurance checks within two work days once documentary requirements are completed.

“Once we have all the documentary requirements, we commit and assure the president that GSIS will release their insurance checks within two work days,” he said.

GSIS is constantly coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) to assist the claimants in obtaining the required documents to facilitate the release of their insurance claims within two days, Macasaet added.

As GSIS members, all medical frontliners in government are covered by the compulsory life insurance program of GSIS. The agency will also grant an additional P500,000 under its BFF program to the families of public health frontliners who died of COVID-19 after treating or serving patients who are infected by the virus.

The beneficiaries are not limited only to doctors but also extends to medical technologists and technicians, janitors, security guards, ambulance drivers and the like, Macasaet said.

The BFF beneficiaries stand to receive an average of over P1 million each, including their GSIS regular life insurance.

“This is the least that we can do to show our appreciation to our modern-day heroes who risked their lives in the service of our nation,” the GSIS official said.

JPV