State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced that it has posted disbursement of over Php110 billion under the GSIS Financial Assistance Loan (GFAL) program since its launch in May 2018, which has benefitted more than 271,000 government employees. GSIS is also extending the program until 29 December 2021.
“Nitong nakaraang 2020, kahit may pandemic at suspended nang anim na buwan ang GFAL, nakapag-release ang GSIS ng Php37 billion kung saan 89,947 members ang nakinabang. At dahil gusto naming guminhawa ang buhay ng mas marami pa naming miyembro, itututuloy namin ang GFAL hanggang sa katapusan ng 2021,” said GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet.
By transferring their loans from other lending institutions and consolidating these under GFAL, GSIS members will benefit from reduced monthly amortization, lower interest rate of 6% per annum and longer payment term of six years. They will also enjoy higher take-home pay and their retirement benefits will be protected from loan deductions while helping GSIS improve its loan collection efficiency.
Aside from paying out the debts of members with other lending institutions, GFAL has the Top-Up Loan feature that allows members to borrow the remaining loan amount for their personal needs. If a member's GFAL loan, for instance, is Php300,000, he or she may borrow the remaining Php200,000 under the Top-Up Loan.
To qualify, borrowers must be permanent government employees with a minimum of three years of paid premiums or appointed, elected, or nonpermanent government employees with at least 15 years of paid premiums; have outstanding loans from lending institutions; and have no due and demandable GSIS loan. In addition, they should not be on leave without pay; have no pending administrative or criminal case except if the case is due to loan nonpayment due to the prioritization of GSIS payments; and have a net take-home pay that is not lower than the Php5,000 requirement under the General Appropriations Act.
Applicants must submit a duly accomplished application form; statement of account from the lender; ID of the lending institution’s authorized representative; and loan agreement, voucher, or other certified documents containing the loan details. They must also submit their previous month's payslip prior to the GFAL application. The payslip must be certified by the agency authorized officer (AAO). A clear photo of the borrower holding the accomplished form and unified multi-purpose identification (UMID) card is also required. In the absence of a UMID card, a photo of their two valid IDs (front and back) may be submitted.
As a safety protocol, applicants may email the requirements to their designated GSIS branch office or submit the same in drop boxes located in GSIS branch offices. Their AAO may submit the requirements on their behalf via email. Liaison officers may likewise submit their application through drop boxes.
Attendance to the financial literacy seminar, one of the requirements for GFAL, may now be complied with by watching the video explainer posted on the GSIS’s website (www.gsis.gov.ph) or by attending a virtual seminar via Zoom or Webex. Loan applicants may also participate in the seminar conducted by their respective HR departments.
The loan is released directly to the lending institution through check. The Top-Up Loan is released to borrowers either through check or e-credited to their UMID or eCard account.
For details on GFAL and other loan programs of GSIS, interested parties may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph; GSIS FB Page, @gsis.ph, and call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847.4747 (if in Metro Manila) or 1,800-8-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers) and 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers).