Lawmakers say: Probe GSIS’s slow processing systems

With complaints from members

MANILA, Philippines–The House of Representatives is set to investigate complaints about difficulties in transacting with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), according to militant lawmakers.

Filing House Resolution No. 1067, Bayan Muna party list Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casino asked the committee on government enterprises and privatization and the committee on civil service to conduct an investigation on the matter.

The complaints came from employees of the House of Representatives, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Education and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

It added that “government employees find it incredulous that while they bleed before they can use their own money with the GSIS, the government can easily spare GSIS funds to fill the coffers of its bail-out program that will ultimately aid ailing private enterprises.”

“While government employees have found it hard to avail of their own hard-earned money that is with the GSIS, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), through its so-called Philippine Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP), can so easily identify the GSIS as one of the possible sources of funding for the said plan,” according to the resolution,” the resolution said.

The lawmakers said there are “mounting complaints” from government employees about difficulties in transacting with the GSIS born out of the agency’s “ineptitude” like failure to update and reconcile records and delay in the posting of premium contributions and loan payments.

“They all tell the same story of waiting for at least three (3) months to one (1) year, or worse, for a longer period before their loan applications or claims are approved and released, and after going through the bureaucratic mill,” the resolution said.

The GSIS, which covers all government workers regardless of their employment status, except employees who have separate retirement schemes under special laws, is mandated to provide and administer the following social security benefits for government employees: compulsory life insurance, optional life insurance, retirement benefits, disability benefits for work-related contingencies and death benefits.

It is likewise mandated to provide to its active members the following loan privileges: salary, policy, emergency and housing loans.–Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Leila Salaverria, INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer