GSIS may revive $1-billion global investment program next year

MANILA, Philippines – The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is looking at reviving its global investment program next year, its top official said.

GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara said that if the financial problems in Europe and the United States subside and the overall environment improves, the agency may again park its funds abroad.

“We’re looking at reviving the GIP next year,” Vergara told reporters but stressed that nothing is final yet.

The government may invest anywhere from $600 million to $1 billion in its GIP program.

The move is part of growing GSIS’ investments. Vergara said that there are opportunities abroad that may enable the agency to grow its investments.

In May last year, GSIS announced that it decided to unwind its investments abroad and focus instead on the domestic market. GSIS decided to shift its investments in the domestic market at the height of the global financial crisis in the US.

Vergara stressed, however, that GSIS would continue to tap the local equities and fixed income market for its investments. He said that GSIS’ liabilities are in pesos and that local investments would bode well for the agency.

The agency may also tap the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership program for infrastructure.

The Aquino administration is eyeing to issue infrastructure bonds to finance projects under its PPP program.

Proceeds of the bonds would help fund solicited infrastructure projects within the next three years.

The bonds, to be issued locally, will mature in 20 to 25 years or less depending on the terms or length of the infrastructure project.

Earlier, the Social Security System (SSS), the state-owned pension fund for private employees, also said that it may invest in the government’s infrastructure bonds for PPP projects.

The SSS said this is among the options the agency is exploring to grow its funds. Other options include growing its investments in stocks or companies listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. –Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star)