DepEd, GSIS addressing teacher loan problems

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has assured teaching and non-teaching personnel that it is taking steps to address issues involving the non-deduction of some loans due with Government Service Insurance Service (GSIS).

The education agency said it will meet with GSIS representatives to discuss the matter, which has reportedly resulted in the imposition of penalties, surcharges and compounded accrued interest on the loans of some DepEd personnel.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition earlier complaint of DepEd’s failure to deduct monthly payments from the salaries of some teachers.

But according to DepEd, the failure to make the automated deduction was due to the lack of electronic billing statement from GSIS.

“DepEd will meet with GSIS to look into the reasons why this happened,” it said.

The agency said it will also ask the GSIS to extend the deadline for members to settle their past due accounts to Dec. 31 instead of Sept. 30.

 “The department is further seeking the possibility of requesting GSIS to waive imposing surcharges to enable affected member-borrowers to focus on the payment of the principal and the interest,” it said.