GSIS urged to waive penalties, release pensions early, grant emergency loans amid COVID-19 threat

Senator Bong Go is urging the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to waive the penalties of its members for delayed remittances, release pensions early, and grant emergency loans as the country faces the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement on Sunday, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, appealed to the GSIS management to be more lenient to its members amid the ongoing public health situation.

"Kung maaari ay bigyan ng palugit ang pagbabayad ng contributions. Huwag na munang maningil ng penalties. Dahil sa community quarantine, maraming finance units ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno ang nahihirapang gumalaw ngayon. Tulungan natin silang maibsan ang kanilang mga problema,” he said.

“Kung maaari din sana, i-release nang mas maaga ang mga pension. Ayon sa mga datos, mas mataas ang fatality rate ng mga matatandang nahawaan ng COVID-19. Kailangan nating tulungan ang ating mga retirees na makaiwas at makapaghanda sa sakit," he added.

Go said he personally communicated his appeal to GSIS president and general manager Rolando Macasaet, who said the agency is ready to help those in need.

“Macasaet confirmed that they are ready to release pensions earlier and they will not penalize agencies which might be late with their remittances. For emergency loans, pinag-aaralan na nila nang mabuti paano gawin, pero may pondo naman,” Go said.

Go said he earlier requested the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to extend the deadline for the filing of income tax returns after the latter issued a memorandum circular stating that the deadline would still be on April 15.

The BIR later extended the deadline to May 15.

Go also said he appealed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide assistance to the vulnerable sectors of the society, including persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, solo parents, and indigent indigenous peoples, among others. He said the department is already considering his request.

"Gawin natin ang lahat ng puwede nating gawin sa panahong ito. Kailangan maging mapagmalasakit ang mga ahensiya ng ating gobyerno, at tiyakin natin na lahat ng sektor ng lipunan ay protektado. Kailangan nating maibsan ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan dahil sa sitwasyong ating kinakaharap ngayon," Go said. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News