By Gabriela Baron
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) opened its emergency loan program to nearly 7,000 members and pensioners in Abra, the epicenter of the 7.0-magnitude quake that rattled Northern Luzon last July 27.
“We are encouraging our members and pensioners who have been affected by the earthquake to avail of the GSIS emergency loan. Nandito po ang GSIS para tumulong,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said in a statement.
“The other provinces in North Luzon have yet to be declared as calamity areas but GSIS is ready to open the emergency loan program once the declaration has been done,” Veloso added.
Veloso said affected active GSIS members working or residing as well as old-age and disability pensioners residing in Abra may apply for the loan until Sept. 4.
Meanwhile, members and pensioners with existing emergency laon and would like to apply for the loan anew may borrow up to P40,000.
Those without emergency loans, as well as pensioners, may borrow P20,000.
Veloso said GSIS already deployed six portable GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System kiosks to far-flung areas in the province to enable prospective loan applicants to save time and money in applying for the loan.
“Sa mga pag-aari naman ng gobyerno sa Abra na nasira ng lindol, titiyakin po natin na magbabayad ang GSIS upang magawang muli ang mga nasirang pag-aari ng pamahalaan na naka-insure sa GSIS. Sa ngayon, na-inspeksyon na namin at na-assess ang damage ng pito sa 29 na gusali ng gobyerno na nasira ng lindol,” he added.
