MANILA, Philippines — State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) plans to launch a new mobile application as part of its efforts to make its services more accessible to members.
GSIS chairman and acting president Rolando Macasaet said the mobile app will enable members to apply for a salary loan, view their loan balance, and file for a motor vehicle insurance claim.
“Next month, we will pilot the GSIS mobile app and launch it within the year. This app will allow you to access your data and our services at the tip of your fingers using your cellphone,” Macasaet said during a recent event in Zamboanga City.
“This is our next step to provide our members and pensioners ‘anytime anywhere’ access to all our products and services,” he added.
Meanwhile, Macasaet also launched two more GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks in Zamboanga City to enable the state fund to reach more members in the region.
The first kiosk was installed in Barangay Vitali in Zamboanga City, which is two hours away from the GSIS Zamboanga branch office, while the second one was established at the KCC Mall. This brought the total number of kiosks in Zamboanga City to eight.
“Now you can save both time and money for travel expenses because you don’t have to go to the Zamboanga branch to check your membership records and apply for loans. Pensioners can also renew their active status using the kiosk and their eCard,” the pension fund chief said.
GSIS has a network of more than 900 kiosks across the country, which are installed in its branches, government agencies, city halls, selected municipalities, provincial capitols, as well as several SM and Robinsons malls.
In addition, the state fund also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, which opens its GFAL Financial Assistance Loan (GFAL) program to 247 teaching and non-teaching personnel in the college.
GFAL allows GSIS members to consolidate and transfer their existing loan balances amounting up to P500,000 from other lending institutionsto the state pension fund.
The facility enables members to pay their oustanding loans with lenders at a lower interest rate of six percent per annum and longer payment term of six years.
To date, a total of 1,689 agencies and local government units have signed agreements with the pension fund to enable their employees to enjoy the program.
According to the GSIS, nearly 200,000 members have already availed of loans, bringing the total loan disbursement to P80 billion.