Marcos calls for full digitalization 

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on government agencies to “fully embrace” digitalization by making as much as 95 percent of their transactions done online, according to a report by BusinessMirror.

Marcos made the pronouncement after the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) reported during its 86th anniversary celebration last Wednesday was able to successfully process 95 percent of its more than one million multi-purpose loan (MPL) application online.

GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said of the said MPL applications, 593,020 were processed through the GSIS “Wireless Automated System Kiosk” while 405,812 through the pension fund’s digital application.

Only 46,048 of the applicants processed their MPL applications over the counter.

“Now, that for me would be a very, very good target for all of our agencies in government and all our departments in government down to the LGUs,” Marcos said in his speech during the celebration.

The president noted that such digital transformation will help public servants to efficiently provide the necessary service to their clients amid the increasing complexity and demands of their operations.

“This will not only improve the delivery of services, but will boost the satisfaction, morale and productivity of government workers,” Marcos said.

A statement by the GSIS read the pension fund also tweaked its MPL by offerong a longer and more flexible payment period, ranging from one year to 15 years, at an interest rate of 6 percent per annum. “Eligibility conditions have been relaxed, allowing government employees who have served for only one month to apply for the MPL,” the GSIS statement read.

New projects

THE President said the online services of GSIS will be further improved by the enhanced GSIS mobile application, which was rolled out last Wednesday.

GSIS documents read that the new version of the application will enable its members to apply for loans, view records, track payments and check account status, among others.

Marcos also lauded GSIS after it launched last Wednesday its housing program to provide qualified members and their families with housing units “amid the rising real estate prices.”

The project consists of three components: a rent-to-own scheme for GSIS’s 15,000 residential properties; an extension of the housing loan condonation program until 2025; and, the construction of decent low-cost housing units for government workers.

Two of the initial housing units to be constructed under program will be high-rise condominiums to be located in Fairview, Quezon City and Cogeo, Antipolo.

Both projects will allow government workers to purchase two-bedroom units for P1.6 million with an affordable financing plan, which has no required downpayment and 30-day repayment term at 12,000 per month. The president thanked the GSIS for the program “and for offering these viable options to its members to ensure that no one gets left behind.”

Achievements, plans

VELOSO also announced that the GSIS achieved a remarkable milestone, generating P6.8 billion in gross premiums written, the highest recorded figure in the organization’s history. This represents a 16-percent increase compared to the previous year, making GSIS the largest non-life insurance company in the country, with the General Insurance Fund worth P41.92 billion.

Additionally, the GSIS said it is expediting the fire insurance claim of the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) and, once the final report from the insurance adjuster is completed, the fire insurance check for PhilPost will be released promptly.