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Friday, March 22, 2013

Php285-M in pension adjustments released by GSIS

By Alma L. Tingcang

PAGADIAN CITY - A total of P285 million intended for pension adjustments has been released by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to its 45,000 retirees as of February 2013 after reviving its  policy in recomputing their pension based on their first day of retirement.

Pensioners who retired on or after September 2009 and are in active status as of payment date.are covered by the new policy.

In a press statement, GSIS President and General Manager  Robert G. Vergara said,  “the decision to adopt the payment of proportionate pension in 2011 was based on the principle that pension is not a privilege but an earned right.”

Engr. Leoncito S. Manuel, GSIS branch head here said pensioners were informed of their adjusted pension through a letter and received the amount through their eCards.

“We have 53 pensioners covered by GSIS Pagadian Branch,” Manuel quoted.

Under the new policy, a government employee who retired from the service effective February 15, for instance, will be paid a portion or fraction of his or her pension covering February 15-28 apart from the monthly pension thereafter. 

Previously, a retiree would start receiving his or her pension only in March, which means losing a proportionate pension in February.

GSIS started crediting Php212 million in pension adjustments to 33,000 eligible pensioners last December 2011.  The second tranche, amounting to Php50 million, was credited  to 8,000 retirees in May 2012; while the third tranche of Php23 million covering 4,200 retirees was credited from December 2012 to February 2013.

The crediting of adjustments for the remaining 1,870 pensioners is scheduled this month. (PIA9)