1 million enroll in GSIS' UMID eCard

CEBU, Philippines - Enrollment for the UMID eCard has reached its one million mark, four months after the Government Service Insurance System announced its compliance with the Unified Multi-purpose ID System or UMID.

The GSIS has around 1.5 million members and pensioners, all of whom are eCard holders. All cardholders are enjoined to enroll for the UMID eCard in order to enjoy the full benefits of the card.

The pension fund said enrollment is still ongoing in all of its offices nationwide. In addition, the GSIS said it has also set up a one-stop-shop at the GSIS Gym, located at its head office in Pasay City, where members and pensioners can enroll for the new eCard, activate the same, and apply for a one-time cash advance.

A P10,000 cash advance can be availed by members whose UMID eCards have already been activated and whose Record of Creditable Service is at least five years.

The P10,000 cash advance has an interest rate of 12 percent effective based on a diminishing balance and is payable in three years.

The GSIS is the first to adopt the UMID System, which aims to streamline and harmonize the identification systems of all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations through the use of a unified multi-purpose ID.

With the use of a single identification system, government agencies, such as the GSIS, the Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) will be able to get rid of redundant databases.

The UMID system also enhances the integrity of state-issued ID cards, facilitate the public’s transactions with the government, and cut costs from producing different IDs.  (THE FREEMAN)