The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Tuesday, Dec. 26, would focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for its scholarship programs.
“Sa susunod na taon ay meron po kaming mas pinagandang scholarship program for board approval. Itong scholarship program ay tinatawag nating GSIS STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics scholarship program,” President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said in the latest episode of GSIS Ginhawa For All.
“Dapat naka-focus tayo rito sapagkat halos lahat po ng ating ginagawa ngayon naka-focus sa siyensiya,” he added.
Veloso underscored that the new scholarship program would help STEM-focused college students graduate because the country needs these sectors.
“Sa bagong scholarship program, bibigyan namin ng pagkakataon ang mga estudyanteng may interes sa science, technology, engineering, at mathematics na makapagtapos sa kanilang mga kurso. Ito ang kailangan ng ating bansa,” the GSIS chief said.
Corporate social responsibility
Veloso said that the GSIS STEM scholarship program was part of the state pension fund’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), which enables the agency to recognize its responsibilities to society.
“[K]inikilala ng GSIS ang responsibilidad nito sa lipunan bukod sa pangunahing tungkulin na pangalagaan ang pondo ng mga lingkod bayan. Para aming mga miyembro at pensyonado, susuportahan namin ang mga aktibidad na makakabuti sa kanilang mga anak at sa mga organisasyong kinabibilangan nila,” he said.
“Para sa aming mga empleyado, nagpapatupad kami ng mga programang nakatutok sa kanilang pag-unlad at iba’t ibang interes. Bahagi din ng aming CSR ang pagtataguyod ng sining at kultura, pangangalaga sa ating kapaligiran, at disaster awareness,” he added.
The GSIS chief also added its GSIS education subsidy program as part of its CSR.
“Meron kaming tinatawag na GSIS educational subsidy program. May kabuuang 22,500 na anak ng GSIS members ang sinusuportahan sa ilalim ng GESP. Sa ilalim ng GESP, binibigyan natin ang bawat isa sa kanila ng P10,000 subsidy tuwing school year para sa kanilang gastusin sa kolehiyo,” Veloso said.
He explained that GESP was not a loan but a grant for GSIS members with the lowest income.
“Hindi ito utang—pinagkakaloob ito sa mga members na may pinakamababang sahod at nanggaling sa iba’t ibang dako ng bansa. Kasama dito ang solo o single parents, indigenous peoples, at persons with disability,” he said.
