GSIS, DepEd sign accord on public teachers' concerns

MANILA, Philippines - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the state-run pension fund for public employees, and the Department of Education (DepEd) have agreed to address the concerns of public school teachers through a memorandum of understanding during the first wave of dialogue between the two agencies.

The GSIS, led by its new chairman Daniel Lacson, has initiated discussions with DepEd officials with the aim of addressing teachers’ concerns, particularly issues on their service records.

Lacson recently met with DepEd Undersecretary for finance and administration Francisco Varela and Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Laguda for a dialogue, where both agencies agreed to fully cooperate.

A panel, headed by Varela on the part of the DepEd and GSIS executive vice president for operations Consuelo Manansala, on the part of the pension fund, has also been formed to work on all issues raised by teachers.

Manansala is also the current OIC-president and general manager of the GSIS.

During the dialogue, the GSIS and DepEd agreed that the pension fund would provide information technology technical assistance to DepEd. This will include, but is not limited to, “the provision of computer hardware and software.”

In 2005, the GSIS and DepEd, which comprise 40 percent of the entire membership base of the pension fund, had previously entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the purpose of updating teachers’ service records.