State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) disbursed a total of P151billion in loans to more than 1million members and pensioners in 2021, a 4% increase from the prior year’s total of Php145 billion.
“Through our various Ginhawa for All (GFAL) loan programs, GSIS has extended financial assistance at a time when our members and pensioners were in dire need of help. Mula sa feedback at inputs ng aming mga miyembro at pensiyonado, patuloy naming pinag-aaralan at pinagbubuti ang aming mga polisiya at programa para mas matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan at bigyan sila ng maginhawang serbisyo,” President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said.
Of the total amount granted, P106 billion was under GFAL multipurpose loans (MPL). The loan aims to help active members, particularly those who have reached their borrowing limit and unable to pay their loans. It consolidates the existing loans of members, except housing and policy loans, and waives surcharges on in-default accounts. Through GFAL MPL, members may apply for up to 14 times their basic monthly salary but not to exceed P3 million. It has a low interest rate of 7% or 8% depending on members’ premium payments.
This month, GSIS will launch GFAL GSIS MPL Plus, an enhanced version of its current MPL program. Under the loan window, GSIS will increase the credit limit to P5million; extend the maximum payment term to 10 years; and relax borrowers’ eligibility conditions.
The pension fund also released P27 billion to 62,974 availees of GSIS Financial Assistance Loan, through which members were able to borrow up to P500,000, consolidate their loans from their agencies’ accredited lending institutions, and transfer the remaining balance to GSIS. For those whose total loan is below P500,000, they had the option to also apply for the Top-Up Loan to defray for their other needs.
Under the GFAL Computer Loan program, GSIS disbursed over P7 billion in gross proceeds, benefitting more than 230,205 borrowers. The GFAL Computer Loan is a loan window that grants a P30,000-assistance to GSIS members for the purchase of a computer unit for their work-from-home arrangement or their children’s online classes. GSIS intends to extend the implementation of this program this year.
Similarly, GSIS granted P6 billion to 269,440 regular and optional loan borrowers; P1 billion to 38,980 GFAL emergency loan borrowers; and P89 million to 2,035 members through the Ginhawa Educational Loan program.
For pensioners, P3.03 billion and P96 million have been released in GFAL Enhanced Pension Loan (38,144) and Pensioners’ Emergency Loan (4,415), respectively.
At the same time, GSIS made loan transactions safer and more convenient for its members and pensioners by making them accessible through online channels such as the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks, electronic GSIS Member Online (eGSISMO), and the newly-launched enhanced GSIS Touch mobile app. Loan proceeds are directly credited to the borrower’s GSIS eCard or Unified Multipurpose Identification (UMID) card.
GSIS likewise implemented technology-driven initiatives such as the Online Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR), and partnership with Bayad.
“Our members may settle their underpaid or unpaid loans through 2,836 active Bayad outlets throughout the country and online via UnionBank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines payment facilities. Very soon, may iba pang payment solution providers ang madadagdag para maparami ang ating alternative payment at online collection channels,” Macasaet said.
“Muli kaming nagpaalala sa aming members at pensioners na i-update nila ang kanilang cellphone numbers at email addresses sa GSIS para matanggap nila ang ipinapadala naming impormasyon tungkol sa kanilang applications sa text o email,” Macasaet added.
For other details, interested parties may visit the GSIS website (www.gsis.gov.ph), or Facebook account (@gsis.ph), email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph, or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila), 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers), and 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers).
