GSIS expands Balik Ginhawa loan refunds to 6 months

MANILA, Philippines — State-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has expanded the loan coverage of its moratorium program to six months, allowing members and pensioners to cope with living costs, still elevated due to the Middle East war.

In a statement, the state pension fund said the Balik Ginhawa 2, now covers loan amortizations paid from December 2025 to May 2026, doubling the three-month refund scheme originally rolled out earlier this year.

GSIS had initially allotted P19 billion for the program, which offers qualified borrowers to receive refunds for amortization payments made from December 2025 to February 2026.

“GSIS is continuously expanding programs that provide genuine relief to our members and pensioners. Balik Ginhawa 2 was designed to give our members and pensioners additional financial breathing room,” GSIS president and general manager Wick Veloso said.

“Through the enhanced program, qualified borrowers may recover up to six months of loan amortizations and use the refunded amount for their immediate needs,” Veloso said.

The GSIS said the initiative applies to active loan accounts, including housing loans, but excludes those under the Ginhawa Green Loans Program, such as the Solar Energy Loan and Bike and E-Mobility Loan.

Applications will be accepted from July 1 to Oct. 31 through the GSIS Touch mobile application.

The pension fund clarified that refunds already received under the first phase of the Balik Ginhawa 1 program will be deducted from the total refundable amount.

However, borrowers who received less than the full three-month refund under Balik Ginhawa 1 may still claim the balance, plus three additional months under the enhanced program, subject to a maximum refund equivalent to six monthly amortizations.