The state-run pension Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) on Wednesday assured that loan assistance will be offered to members and pensioners in areas affected by Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri).
In a press briefing in Malacañang, GSIS Vice President for Visayas Operations Joseph Philip Andres said an Emergency Loan Program will soon be available to GSIS members and pensioners in typhoon-affected areas.
Andres said members and pensioners may borrow PHP20,000, payable in three years in equal monthly installments with an 8 percent interest rate.
They may apply for the loan after presenting a declaration of being under a State of Calamity by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panglungsod and/or the National Disaster Reduction Risk Management Council, he added.
Currently, he said members and pensioners have yet to apply for a loan since the typhoon made a landfall only on Tuesday night.
Entitlement of members and pensioners is if the calamity happens within three months.
“Kunwari si (For example) Tisoy, from now until three months after puwede siya maging (it can serve as) basis na (of) declaration of that calamity and as basis for the granting of that loan,” Andres said.
Members and pensioners not within the calamity-hit areas, may avail of the GSIS Financial Assistance Loan (GFAL).
On the other hand, SSS Member Loans Department acting head Boobie Ocay said SSS members may soon apply for Calamity Loan Assistance Program (CLAP).
Ocay said under CLAP, qualified members may be granted a loan amount equivalent to their respective average monthly salary credit (MSC) which is computed based on the average of the last 12 MSCs.
The loan amount will be payable in two years in equal monthly installments and has an interest rate of 10 percent per annum.
“Makiki-coordinate kami sa NDRRMC for the declaration ng state of calamity kasi usually sinisigurado namin yung area ay talagang nakalamidad so may basehan kaming official bago kami mag-offer ng Calamity Package sa area na ‘yun (We coordinate with the NDRRMC for the declaration of state of calamity because we have to make sure an area is calamity hit so we have basis before we offer Calamity Packages in the area),” Ocay said in a media interview.
She said the ongoing Calamity Package is available for members affected by a series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao in October.
Aside from CLAP, the SSS also offers two other programs, the three-month advance pension, and Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan.
Section 16 of Republic Act 10121 gives the power to declare an area or areas under a State of Calamity to the President of the Philippines or to the Local Government Units upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) or their local counterparts known as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LDRRMC), respectively.
Once under state of calamity, citizens of that area are granted the opportunity to apply for a loan from the government.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Tisoy is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Wednesday night and Thursday morning and is expected to continuously weaken due to the northeast monsoon. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
