GSIS loans released after quake to be paid starting November

CEBU, Philippines - At least 24,000 old-aged pensioners who were affected by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Central Visayas and received the P40,000 each emergency loan from the Government Service Insurance System can start paying their loans next month.

Pensioners were given a one year moratorium in paying their loans after it was released last November, said Ma. Fatima Alvarez, Regional Manager of GSIS-7.

There are around 16,000 pensioners from Cebu province and around 8,000 from Bohol.

 “It is under the state of calamity so it was released November 2013 and they could pay it after a year…they still have next month,” Alvarez explained.

GSIS announced that Land Bank is also now a depository bank of the agency.

The agency further announced its other loan-friendly programs like the hospitalization support program the home visitation program, among others.

Alvarez said that GSIS members can avail of as much as 50 percent discounts in chosen hospitals region-wide.

“Pareha anang CT-scan o kanang mga machines nga dagko nga gamiton, maka-discount na ana in which dako na ug tabang,” Alvarez said in a press conference.

Home visitation programs are also available in which a team from GSIS would make home visits to very old pensioners who are already incapable of going to their offices.

“In this case, we are extending ourselves to visit them at their home to get all the data and biometrics to make sure nga sila gyud,” Alvarez explained.

There are also 34 desktop kiosks in selected municipalities and cities province-wide where members can swipe their GSIS eCard Plus.

Alvarez hopes that with the innovation of technology, they can serve all members with utmost convenience. —  (FREEMAN)