The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Department of Education (DepEd) have inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to improve the lives of educators and staff within the educational sector.
This partnership, signed by Hon. Sara Z. Duterte, Vice President of the Philippines and Secretary of the DepEd, along with Jose Arnulfo "Wick" A. Veloso, President and General Manager of GSIS, marks a major step towards providing an enhanced customer experience to teachers and other DepEd personnel.
Mr. Veloso expressed the importance of extending GSIS's customer experience to teachers, particularly those within the DepEd.
"We want to ensure that our teachers receive the special attention they deserve. We have established a dedicated lane for our educators at GSIS, and we plan to expand on this initiative to include more specialized services."
In a bid to make the GSIS experience more accessible and efficient, the organization is collaborating with service providers to provide comprehensive guidance when educators seek assistance.
However, one of the standout features of this partnership is the introduction of "Multipurpose Loan Flex," a novel financial product designed to support government employees, especially teachers, during financial emergencies.
Under this program, government employees, including teachers, can avail themselves of loans with a reduced interest rate of 6%, extended repayment terms of up to 10 years, and loan amounts of up to P5 million, subject to Net Take Home pay and credit standards.
Furthermore, GSIS is taking a holistic approach to address the housing needs of teachers by introducing a housing program that eliminates the need for a down payment, making home ownership more accessible to educators.
"Sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang 4Ps po ng inyong GSIS ay unang una po, sinisigurado po natin ang pabahay. I always maintain that the basic human right is the right to vote but I like to also add that decency of owning your house is something we would like to provide," Mr. Veloso emphasized.
Additionally, GSIS is working on a program to offer medical insurance coverage beyond PhilHealth, further improving the overall welfare of teachers and DepEd personnel.
VP Sara Duterte, in her speech, acknowledged that GSIS-related concerns consistently ranked among the top issues facing educators.
"Nakita namin doon sa tally ng mga paaralan na binibista namin [ay] nasa top 2 lagi [ng problema ng mga guro] ang GSIS complaint," she explained.
VP Duterte outlined the following key initiatives within the partnership:
- Specialized Services: Teachers and DepEd personnel will have access to dedicated service lanes at GSIS offices, ensuring faster and more personalized assistance.
- Financial Support: The introduction of the "Multipurpose Loan Flex" offers government employees, especially teachers, lower interest rates (6%), extended repayment terms (up to 10 years), and higher loan amounts (up to P5 million) during financial emergencies.
- Housing Accessibility: GSIS is working to provide teachers with housing solutions that eliminate the need for down payments, making homeownership more accessible.
- Enhanced Medical Insurance: GSIS is developing a program to offer medical insurance coverage beyond PhilHealth, providing additional healthcare support to teachers and DepEd personnel.
- Express Lanes: GSIS will establish express lanes exclusively for teachers and DepEd personnel, ensuring quicker access to services in central offices and regional branches nationwide.
- Dedicated Hotline: A DepEd-specific option on the GSIS hotline will make it easier for teachers and DepEd personnel to get information and assistance.
- Designated Account Officers: GSIS will assign account officers solely responsible for addressing DepEd-related issues.
- Annual Dialogue: An annual dialogue between GSIS branches and DepEd offices will facilitate open discussions and prompt resolutions of concerns.
The GSIS and DepEd partnership signifies a crucial step toward elevating the welfare and customer experience of teachers and DepEd personnel, ultimately creating a more supportive environment for educators to excel in their roles.
