GSIS pensioners told to get new EMV cards

CEBU, Philippines — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in Cebu is advising pensioners to revalidate their status and get EMV-compliant cards to avoid delays in claiming their pensions.

GSIS-Cebu branch manager Mercedes Enriquez said some pensioners in Cebu may have failed to receive their monthly pension because they did not revalidate their status or are still using the old Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) cards.

The EMV-compliant card can be claimed at the One Central Hotel (near Elizabeth Mall or E-Mall in Cebu City), the distribution station of Union Bank. Touted as a more secure card, an EMV card features a microchip instead of a magnetic strip, thus reducing chances of the data on card to be stolen.

Enriquez said several personnel will be there to attend to the needs of GSIS-Cebu members, including the pensioners.

"Maybe pag-adto nila na-timing nga daghan og tawo but in some days kay mingaw pud. But we assure them nga naay personnel didto para ma-claim nila ang ilang new ATMs," Enriquez added.

The GSIS has made use of its wireless automated processing system called GWAPS kiosks stationed in some malls and set up some Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR) caravans to make it convenient for pensioners to comply with the requirement to personally appear before the pension fund every year.

According to GSIS, pensioners are required to reactivate their status annually for the continuous receipt of their pension.

APIR will ensure that the pensions of demised pensioners are discontinued immediately to avoid overpayment that may bring about financial losses. This way, the soundness of the pension fund is maintained.

Meanwhile, to reach out to clients from the countryside who failed to revalidate on time, the GSIS will hold a two-day revalidation of the status of pensioners from northern Cebu this month.

The state pension fund's APIR will be held on July 14 at the Bogo City Hall and on July 16 in Danao City.

The GSIS earlier set June 30 as the deadline for the pensioners' revalidation.

Enriquez, who was present at the Kapihan sa PIA-7 forum yesterday, called on pensioners ages 79 years old and below who have not revalidated to do so. Otherwise, their accounts will be suspended.

"So kadtong pensioners nato nga na-revalidate na, wala na moy labot ani kay human na man mo," she said.

To date, GSIS-Cebu has more than 63,000 members, of which around 18,000 are old age or survivorship pensioners.

Enriquez also pointed out that those pensioners (79 years old and below) whose status had been suspended and can revalidate the same within the month are eligible to get their pension for July before the month ends.

Pensions of those 80 years old and above are automatically not suspended as it is the Philippine Postal Corporation that is revalidating for them.

However, there are instances in which they cannot withdraw their pension even if they have not been suspended. This is because they may still be using their old UMID card which has been replaced with EMV-compliant card.

"Dapat kuhaon gyud nila ang EMV-compliant card and they can have somebody get it for them," Enriquez said. (FREEMAN)