Chairman Daniel Lacson Jr. of the Government Service Insurance System yesterday announced that government employees in Tropical Storm Sendong-hit areas, including Negros Oriental, can apply for P20,000 loans through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GW@PS) kiosks or at GSIS offices in their areas.

Eligible members can avail of the emergency loans starting today up to January 20, he told the DAILY STAR.

Among those eligible are active members working or residing in areas declared in a state of calamity; who are not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending criminal or administrative charges; have no arrearages in mandatory payment of social insurance coverage, and have no loan declared in default, he said.

The agency of the member must also not be suspended because of non-remittance/non-payment of premiums, he added.

Lacson said an applicant must have a take home pay of at least P3,000 to be able to avail of the loan, he said.

There are 500 GW@PS kiosks that have been placed recently in every province and district around the country, and 97 percent of those applying for loans have used the facility, Lacson said.

The GSIS member can avail of the loan in two to three days from application if approved by the agency authorized officer, he added.

The GSIS board has approved this year P9 billion for emergency loans, and dispersed, prior to Sendong, P3.7 billion, he added.

The GSIS board has also authorized the president and general manager to approve areas that should be covered by the Sendong emergency loans, Lacson said.

As of yesterday, the GSIS was providing Sendong emergency loans to its members in the entire provinces of Misamis Oriental and Negros Oriental and 19 cities and municipalities - Dipolog City, Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte; Ozamis City and Clarin, Misamis Occidental; Asuncion, Davao del Norte; Tagbina, Hinatuan, Bislig City, and Lingig, Surigao Sur; Talacogon, Agusan Sur; Valencia City, Bukidnon; Nabunturan, Montevista, New Bataan, Monkayo, and Compostela, Compostela Valley; Iligan City, Lanao Norte; and Bubong and Kapai, Lanao Sur, Lacson said.*CPG

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