The Government Service Insurance System is set to release ₱12.9 million in life insurance benefits to the families/beneficiaries of the eight government health workers who succumbed to the COVID-19 virus, according to Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, president and general manager of the state pension fund.
“Our insurance officers are already coordinating with the bereaved families. Once the papers are duly processed, we will release the amounts without delay,” Macasaet said. “And as promised, we will be granting an additional ₱500,000 under our Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners (BFF) on top of their regular insurance benefits in recognition of their heroism and selfless dedication to public service,” he added.
Last April 14, 2020, the GSIS Board of Trustees approved a resolution establishing the BFF that would provide an additional ₱500,000 cash benefit to government health workers involved in the fight against COVID-19 on top of their regular GSIS life insurance policy. As GSIS members, all government doctors and health professionals employed in the DOH, DOH-attached institutions, LGU health centers and other public health institutions are automatically covered by a life insurance policy provided by GSIS. The GSIS life insurance policy entitles the member’s family/beneficiary to receive a lump sum payment equivalent to 150 of the annual salary of the deceased member.
“Each family will receive from GSIS a lump sum payment equivalent to 150 percent of the annual salary of the deceased, plus ₱500,000 under the BFF. This is over and above the ₱1 million which President Duterte promised to give our frontliners under the Bayanihan to Heal as One law,” Macasaet explained.
“It is devastating to lose a loved one but we do hope that this will help assuage the grief felt by the families of those left behind by these heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Macasaet added.
Macasaet refused to name the eight government workers who succumbed to COVID-19 citing privacy reasons, but said that five of the individuals worked with national health institutions such as the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), National Children’s Hospital and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu, while three worked in the local health centers of Manila, Parañaque and Pampanga.