GSIS members getting impatient, call for Garcia’s ouster anew
Around thirty members of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), both active and pensioners, gathered in front of the GSIS office in Iznart Street, Iloilo City yesterday to decry the agency’s lousy service and call for the ouster of its president Winston Garcia.
The group composed of representatives from Confederation of Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), Alliance of Concerned teachers (ACT), Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and the Alliance of Public Sector Employees (APSE) held a caravan around the city’s major thoroughfares before staging a rally in front of the GSIS office.
GSIS members who joined the protest complained the delayed posting of their premium payments and the delayed release of retiree’s pension.
Mr. Henry dela Cruz, administrative officer IV of the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office, said this is not only the concern of their office but rather it is a national concern that all government employees should be involved.
Dela Cruz even shared his present experience that he is supposed to end his loan of P180,000 this year after diligently paying it every month but upon checking from the GSIS record, only P40,000 of his payment was reflected. As a result he was not able to receive his dividend for over two years now.
Further, a retired teacher from Leganes Mr. Nonito Gulmatico said he never experienced such a lousy service where his pension was released one month delayed. Gulmatico said, it was only after Garcia took over the post as GSIS president that he experienced delay in the release of his pension.
“I believe all this mess started when Garcia bought the expensive painting which is very impractical for the members,” Gulmatico stressed referring to the controversial acquisition of the Luna painting several years ago.
On the other hand, GSIS regional manager Eleonor Gregorio went down to meet the protesters while the security guards nearly closed the door to prevent the protesters from coming in.
Gregorio admitted that there is indeed a system problem within the department and she asked the members for consideration.
“We are not denying that there is a problem in our system. We are looking for a solution. We are asking for more considerations from our members and assured them that at the end of this year, these problems will be resolved,” she said.
“We are also affected being government employees. It is our concern too,” Gregorio added.