The Government Service Insurance System approved the grant of emergency loans for members in Negros Oriental who were affected by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit the province on Feb. 6.
“We are looking at more than 8,000 members who are eligible under the Emergency Loan Program and we have allocated P164 million for them,” Robert G. Vergara, president and general manager, said.
Qualified members can avail of the P20,000-Emergency Loan until March 9 in any of the 11 GSIS kiosks, deployed throughout Negros Oriental, using either their UMID card or temporary card.
The kiosks are at the Provincial Capitol, Department of education, GSIS Dumaguete office, Bayawan City Hall, Bais City Hall, Guihulngan town hall, Canlaon City Hall, Tanjay City Hall, and Siaton town hall.
Members who do not have a UMID Card but who are eligible to apply for the loan can apply over- the-counter at the GSIS Dumaguete office.
Members who can avail of the loan are the following: bona fide employees of the agency located in the calamity area or residents of the calamity area; in active service and not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending criminal or administrative charges; have no arrearages in the payment of mandatory social insurance contributions; and have no loan that has been declared in default.
Also, the agency of the member-applicant must not be suspended because of non-payment and non-remittance of premiums and loans.
The pension fund has reduced the interest rate for its emergency loan from eight percent to six percent and would no longer charge a one percent service fee for the loan. It has also extended the payment of the first amortization from one month to three months.
“This is part of the current effort of the Board and Management to make our policies and programs more responsive to our members, particularly in times of adversity,” Vergara said.
For more details, members may visit GSIS Dumaguete along the National Highway in Daro or call tel. (035) 225-0370.