Date Posted: August 31, 2018

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is offering emergency loan to a total of 22,685 active members and old-age pensioners who were affected by calamities in 18 areas in Luzon and Mindanao.

The province of Occidental Mindoro was affected by typhoon Josie, while one city and 15 municipalities of Nueva Ecija were battered by typhoons Inday and Josie and the south west monsoon. Due to heavy rains, the Simuay River in the municipality of Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao overflowed.

The Nueva Ecija areas are: Science City of Muñoz and municipalities of Peñaranda, Gen Tinio, San Isidro, Cabiao, San Antonio, Zaragosa, Aliaga, Licab, Quezon, Talavera, Guimba, Cuyapo, Talugtug, Carranglan, and Pantabangan.

The application deadline for Occidental Mindoro is September 9, 2018; September 13, 2018 for Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; and September 16, 2018 for the 16 Nueva Ecija areas.

A total of 10,036 active members in the calamity areas who have no existing emergency loan may apply for a Php20,000 loan. A total of 8,835 members who have not yet fully paid their emergency loan may apply for an amount of Php40,000, from which the outstanding balance will be deducted.

Qualified borrowers are active members who are working or residing in said areas, are not on leave of absence without pay, have no arrears in paying monthly social insurance premium contributions, and have no unpaid loans for more than six months. They should also have a minimum net take-home pay of Php5,000 after monthly premium contributions and loan amortizations have been deducted.

Active members may apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosk located in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; Robinsons Malls; and selected SM City branches in North EDSA, Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, SM Aura in Taguig and Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

A total of 3,814 old-age pensioners in the calamity areas are qualified to apply for a Php20,000 loan. Interested pensioners should personally file their application over the counter. Pensioners who are also active members may apply for the loan only once.

Emergency loan is payable in 36 equal monthly instalments at the rate of six percent interest per annum. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise, provided that loan repayment is up to date.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS electronic card (eCard) or unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card.

Interested parties who have inquiries may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph, or Facebook account, @gsis.ph; email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747 or 1-800-8-847-4747 (for Globe [free with minimum Php8.00 load] and TM subscribers) or 1-800-10-847-4747 [for Smart, Sun, and Talk ’N Text subscribers; Php8.00/call]).