By Wilnard Bacelonia, June 27, 2025; Philippine News Agency
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1253057
MANILA – The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is accelerating its transformation into a fully digital, member-driven institution by launching new tools and policy reforms aimed at enhancing accessibility, reducing red tape, and easing member’s financial burdens.
In a news release on Friday, GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo Veloso said the shift reflects the agency’s renewed focus on listening to members and reshaping services around their needs.
“We listen to what our members need. Every reform we implement begins with their feedback,” Veloso said.
A stakeholder dialogue was held Wednesday at the Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay where government agencies, state universities, and partner institutions discussed reforms, such as the rollout of digital platforms like the GSIS Touch mobile app, facial recognition for pensioners, and Digital Hubs in branch offices, which have enabled 99 percent of transactions to be processed online.
The GSIS also simplified access to financial aid. The Ginhawa Max Loan Buyout program now only requires a letter of intent from an agency head, expediting the application process.
As of the latest data, a combined PHP413.4 billion has been disbursed under the Ginhawa Flex and Ginhawa Lite loan programs, supporting 1.9 million applications.
To help members with unpaid balances, GSIS adopted a penalty condonation policy using simple interest computation.
“We’re not just cutting lines or paperwork. We’re making real changes that ease the financial burdens of our members,” Veloso said.
In housing, GSIS’s Lease-With-Option-to-Buy program has enabled more than 4,000 families to acquire affordable homes, while nearly 2,000 borrowers have avoided foreclosure through the Housing Accounts Remedial and Condonation Program.
Public asset protection was also expanded, with more than 130,000 public school buildings now insured through the National Indemnity Insurance Program, boosting government resilience against disaster risks.