The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has urged its members and pensioners to help keep the state pension fund healthy by paying their dues and loans responsibly.
In a recent Laging Handa media briefing, GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso also urged government agencies to ensure that benefits of GSIS members remain safe by deducting accurate monthly amortizations and remitting the deductions on time.
“We have been reminding those who are unable to pay them on time to attend to it for the sake of the benefits of other members,” he said, adding that GSIS members should make sure their loan amortizations are correct and they should not wait for their arrears to balloon before coordinating with the state-owned pension fund.
He also cited the memorandum circular issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) reiterating the responsibility of government agencies on prompt and correct payments of their employees’ contributions and loan payments.
“If the agencies fail to do so, they will receive a COA finding which will be included in its report. COA is a key partner in ensuring that government agencies comply with the law mandating the collection and remittance of loan payments to the GSIS,” he said.
The GSIS chief also disclosed that the state pension fund and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signed on Tuesday a data sharing agreement that aims to facilitate the exchange of data for the development of application programs that will improve GSIS’ capability to deliver efficient and quality services.
Under the accord, GSIS and DICT will collaborate in digitalization initiatives which may involve the sharing of personal information of GSIS members and pensioners.
This fosters a secure and trustworthy data-sharing environment for both agencies, while ensuring their accountability and responsibility in protecting the GSIS stakeholders’ data.
Veloso said the team-up “allows us to be able to fully implement the enhancements that we have with our GSIS Touch”, referring to the state pension fund’s mobile app.
He said members and pensioners who need annual physical revalidation need not go to GSIS offices since they can now use their mobile phones for this process.
This collaboration, Veloso explained is also a significant step towards achieving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of digitalizing government systems to ensure better services for the transacting public.