The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) allotted close to Php533 million in emergency loan for members and pensioners who were affected by El Niño in Palawan and municipalities of Sinacaban in Misamis Occidental and Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental.
A total of 15,404 and 584 active members in Palawan and two Misamis municipalities, respectively, may apply for a Php20,000 loan as first-time borrowers. The 4,251 members with existing emergency loans in the said areas may borrow Php40,000, from which their outstanding loan balance will be deducted.
The loan is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments at 6 percent interest rate per annum computed in advance. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise, provided that loan repayment is up to date.
Active members may apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks located in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; Robinsons Malls; and selected SM City branches in North EDSA, Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and SM Aura in Taguig.
The 2,202 old-age pensioners in the said calamity areas must go to GSIS branch offices in Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, and Dipolog to personally apply for a Php20,000 pension emergency loan. If they are also active members (for having been reemployed in government), they may borrow only once.
Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrowers’ GSIS electronic Card (eCard) or unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card.
Special members or government employees who are covered by retirement schemes separate from GSIS but remitting life insurance premiums are not entitled to the loan facility.
The deadline for submission of loan application in Palawan and Misamis areas is July 10 and 14, respectively.
For more information, call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-47-47; visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph; or email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph.
