The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said Wednesday it rolled out sweeping reforms including the removal of the survivorship pension cap and the full digitization of its services, to improve the welfare of its members and retirees.
GSIS officer-in-charge Juliet Bautista said the fund is carrying out a series of major reforms in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directives.
She said surviving spouses now receive the full 50 percent of their partner’s pension, regardless of the amount. Previously, this benefit was capped at the salary of an Undersecretary, limiting the support families could receive.
Survivorship pensions are no longer suspended if the beneficiary lives with another partner. Termination of the pension now only applies if the pensioner remarries, ensuring beneficiaries are not unfairly deprived of income, the fund said.
Pensioners who fail to complete their Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation (APIR) by April are no longer disqualified from receiving the gift. As long as APIR is completed, even after April, the benefit remains intact, it said.
Retirees can now apply for their pension through the GSIS Touch app without needing to visit GSIS offices. The app also allows members and pensioners to complete their APIR, apply for loans, and access other services anytime, anywhere.
President Marcos directed both GSIS and the Social Security System (SSS) to “guard members’ trust with vigilance, invest wisely and modernize their systems.”
He made the statement during the ceremonial launch of the SSS Pension Reform Program on Tuesday, adding that services should be made accessible not only through digital platforms but also in the most remote communities.
“Let us protect the lifetime of work that our pensioners have built for themselves and for our country,” the President said.
The GSIS board of trustees said it is also reviewing its investment policies to align them with sound governance, risk management and sustainable growth principles. This is to ensure that members’ contributions are invested wisely and remain secure while delivering long-term value for future generations.
“These reforms are not just changes in rules. They are statements of our commitment to make our systems more humane, responsive, and inclusive,” Bautista said during the National Pensioners’ Day program at the GSIS Theater in Pasay City.
“Through these reforms and digital platforms, we are making services faster, easier, and more accessible because our pensioners deserve retirement years marked by dignity, security and ginhawa,” she said.
The National Pensioners’ Week was observed from Sept. 8 to 12. GSIS and SSS, in partnership with government agencies and senior citizens’ organizations, mounted activities nationwide including forums, health and wellness programs, livelihood initiatives, recognition ceremonies and financial literacy campaigns.
