The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) disbursed more than P1.5 billion in emergency loans to the victims of the recent onslaught of the southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones “Crising,” “Dante,” and “Emong.”
In a statement, the GSIS said around 44,000 members have availed of the emergency loan program following the series of severe weather events.
Qualified members can borrow up to P40,000, while pensioners may avail of P20,000. The loan is payable over 36 months at a fixed interest rate of 6 percent per annum.
The state pension fund listed several areas currently eligible for the emergency loan program, with application periods varying based on local declarations of a state of calamity:
- Until August 15: Province of Siquijor
- Until August 23: Calumpit, Bulacan, and Umingan, Pangasinan
- July 24 to October 23: Cavite, Manila, and Quezon City
- July 25 to October 24: Malabon, Marikina, Las Piñas, Navotas, Valenzuela, Roxas (Palawan), Agoncillo (Batangas), Balagtas (Bulacan), Malasiqui (Pangasinan), Bataan, Pampanga, and Dagupan City
- July 26 to August 25: Mangaldan and Mangatarem (Pangasinan)
- July 26 to October 24: Province of Rizal
- July 26 to October 25: Caloocan City
- July 27 to October 26: Muntinlupa City
- July 29 to August 28: Moncada and Paniqui (Tarlac), Anda and Lingayen (Pangasinan), La Union, Laguna, and San Carlos City (Pangasinan)
The GSIS added that more areas may be included in the program once they are officially placed under a state of calamity.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), monsoon rains triggered by the three tropical cyclones have claimed at least 37 lives and affected nearly 7.6 million individuals across the country.
