By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
As Filipinos begin to recover from the impact of previous tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, as well as heavy rainfall induced by the southwest monsoon (habagat), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) expressed its readiness to extend emergency loans to affected members and pensioners.
This, as many local government units (LGUs) have declared their respective areas under a state of calamity after inclement weather brought about flash floods and landslides in several regions of the country.
In an interview over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Wednesday, GSIS Executive Vice President Joseph Philip Andres said that the state social insurance institution continues to expand the scope of the program in response to recent calamities.
GSIS Executive Vice President Joseph Philip Andres expounded, “Para sa mga existing members natin na may existing loan ay pwede po silang makapag-loan up to P40,000. Para ang mangyayari diyan, isasarado po iyong kanilang existing loan at magkakaroon sila ng proceeds na at least na P20,000 po.”
To qualify, active members must reside or work in a declared calamity area, be in active service and not on leave of absence without pay, have no pending administrative or criminal case, have paid premiums within the last six months before application, and maintain a net take-home pay of at least P5,000 after loan deductions, as required under the General Appropriations Act.
Moreover, members without an existing emergency loan may borrow P20,000, which carries a 6% interest rate payable in 36 equal monthly amortizations.
Meanwhile, EVP Andres said that the GSIS Balik Ginhawa 2 Program remains available to provide additional financial headroom for members and pensioners with existing obligations.
The GSIS official said, “Open pa rin po ang aming Balik Ginhawa 2 Program para po lubos na makatulong sa ating mga members, both active and pensioners.”
This program facilitates recovery of loan amortizations paid from December 2025-May 2026 for qualified borrowers, with an extended corresponding repayment period and no additional interest imposed.
Applications for emergency loans may be filed through the GSIS Touch mobile application available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. But for those who cannot access the app due to disrupted telecommunications services, they may visit the GSIS offices for assistance.
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