Government retirees will be able to apply for a GSIS solar energy loan starting September 30. The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced the expansion as part of its observance of National Pensioners’ Week.
Under the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan (GSEL), qualified pensioners may borrow up to ₱500,000 to purchase and install residential solar energy systems. Terms: a five-year repayment period, 5 percent annual interest, and no service fee. Applications go through the GSIS Touch mobile app.
GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso framed the move as a cost-of-living measure. “Sa pagbubukas ng GSEL sa ating mga pensionado, binibigyan natin sila ng karagdagang financial option na maaaring makatulong na mapababa ang kanilang gastusin sa kuryente (By opening GSEL to pensioners, the fund is giving them an additional financial option that may help lower their electricity expenses),” he said.
GSEL is not new. GSIS launched it for active government employees in March. September 30 marks its first extension to retirees.
It is also not the only change. GSIS raised the funeral benefit from ₱30,000 to ₱50,000 for qualified claims involving deaths on or after July 13. It removed the cap on survivorship pensions, so qualified surviving spouses now receive the full amount – 50 percent of the deceased member’s or pensioner’s pension. Cohabitation no longer stops a survivorship pension; remarriage still does.
On the money side, GSIS says it has returned close to ₱20 billion as of September 21 through its original and enhanced Balik Ginhawa programs, covering nearly 1.6 million loan contracts across more than 700,000 members and pensioners.
Retirees can also access pension and emergency loans, insurance products, and housing options through GSIS Touch.
Veloso closed with a broader point about recognition: “Ang ating mga pensionado ay naglaan ng malaking bahagi ng kanilang buhay sa paglilingkod sa bayan. Kaya ang pagkilala sa kanila ay hindi lamang isang selebrasyon (Our pensioners devoted a significant part of their lives to public service. That is why recognizing them should go beyond celebration)”.
