EIGHT government medical frontliners who died in the line of duty while battling the spread of the novel coronavirus will leave their loved ones more than just cherished memories: their families also stand to receive between P2.2 million and P2.9 million insurance benefits in recognition of their service.
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Rolando Macasaet, appearing at the “Laging Handa” public briefing, said the eight fallen health workers will receive a lot more than their regular insurance coverage as members of the pension fund.
“All government employees are covered by the GSIS life insurance equivalent to 150 percent of their monthly salaries multiplied by 12. However, our Board of Trustees led by retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin decided to release another P500,000 for each medical frontliner who died due to COVID-19,” Macasaet said.
The additional cash release was made possible under the Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners (BFF) which will provide a similar insurance coverage to other government frontliners.
“The eight medical frontliners in our list stand to receive a total of P9 million under the regular life insurance. We increased that by P4.5 million under the BFF so the total went up to P13 to P14 million,” the GSIS head said.
He added that President Duterte further beefed up the amount by another P1 million for the families of each fallen government health worker.
“That brings the range to a minimum of P2.2 million per family to a maximum of P2.9 million. We understand the pain of losing a loved one, so in this way at least the government is trying to help the families of our new heroes,” Macasaet said
For regular members of the state pension fund, the GSIS has likewise processed and approved almost 40,000 online loan applications with the equivalent loan proceeds totaling close to P4 billion.
Where previously the emergency loan applications had a ceiling of only P20,000 per member, the GSIS doubled the loanable amount to P40,000 per member.
Macasaet explained that based on the evaluation undertaken by the Board of Trustees, those who have earlier availed of emergency loans due to the Taal ashfall and other disasters could no longer borrow from the GSIS because of the low ceiling.
“The Board of Trustees decided to increase the sum to P40,000 so members may avail of assistance. We have almost a thousand GSIS kiosk all over the country, what they can do is just go there so we can process fast. Emergency loans, maximum of three working days we can release the proceeds to their GSIS cards o of through the banks,” he said.
