State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has set aside almost Php2.4 billion in emergency loan for its active members and pensioners working or residing in Batangas and Cavite provinces who were affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
"Our offices in Pasay and Batangas City will be open even on Saturdays to accommodate pensioners who will apply for the emergency loan over the counter, and members who will apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks,” GSIS Chairman and Acting President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said.
GWAPS kiosks are also available in all GSIS branch and extension offices, provincial capitols, city halls, selected municipal offices, large government agencies, and in Robinsons Malls and selected SM City branches.
The deadlines for loan application in Batangas and Cavite is February 17 and 20, respectively.
More than 119,000 active members and disability and old-age pensioners are eligible to apply for the Php20,000 loan.
Active members may apply if they are working or residing in the calamity-declared areas; have updated premium payments within the last six months prior to application; have no unpaid loans for more than six months; not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending administrative case or criminal charge; and have a minimum net take-home pay of Php5,000 after deduction of the monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations.
Members with prior loans may renew provided their loan payment is up to date. The outstanding emergency loan balance will be deducted from the net proceeds of the new loan.
Old-age and disability pensioners in the calamity declared-areas may apply for the emergency loan if the resulting net monthly pension after loan availment is at least 25% of their basic monthly pension.
The GSIS emergency loan, which is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments at six percent interest rate, is covered by a loan redemption insurance that deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s death, for as long as loan repayments are updated.
Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS electronic card (eCard) or unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card.
For inquiries, affected members and pensioners may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph, or Facebook account, @gsis.ph; email address gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 if in Metro Manila or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) or 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ’N Text subscribers).