GSIS offers 3-month loan moratorium

MANILA, Philippines — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is now offering government employees a three?month loan moratorium through a refund scheme, as households reel from higher living costs due to the escalating war in the Middle East.

Under the Balik Ginhawa program, the state pension fund said it would return the equivalent of three months’ worth of loan amortizations in one lump sum to members who apply voluntarily.

The GSIS said loan amortizations covering December 2025 to February 2026 will be returned to members through direct crediting to their accounts.

GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said the program is aimed to extend immediate assistance while safeguarding the long-term interests of members.

“This way, you can immediately use it for your needs. Regular salary deductions will remain in place to preserve the GSIS’s order and stability and to continue safeguarding the welfare of its members,” Veloso said in a statement.

Once approved, the loan term will be extended by three months without additional interest or penalties, GSIS said.

The announcement comes after Sen. Imee Marcos called for the GSIS, Pag-IBIG Fund,the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Social Security System to suspend mandatory government contributions in response to the economic burden of the Middle East conflict.

GSIS also urges members to use the GSIS Touch app to apply and to check official announcements for further details.

The fund said this was unlike a traditional loan moratorium, where members temporarily stop paying and receive the benefit gradually over several months.

“This approach enables members to immediately access a meaningful amount that they can use for urgent personal and household needs, instead of receiving smaller amounts spread out over time,” the GSIS said.

Balik Ginhawa supports the administration’s broader approach under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program, aimed to cushion the impact of rising living costs.