GSIS to release members’ pensions ahead of Holy Week break

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will release the benefits of its 562,000 pensioners three days ahead of the regular schedule due to Holy Week.
 
“Our pensioners will receive their pension on April 5 instead of the usual e-crediting on the eighth of every month. We know that our retirees need their pension early as most commercial establishments will be closed during the Holy Week,” GSIS president and general manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said in a statement on Tuesday.
 
“Semana Santa is one of the most important religious occasions in our country, and we want our pensioners to prepare for it without having to worry about their necessities,” he said.
 
Veloso added that the GSIS understands the urgency of releasing the pension early since all government agencies, including the GSIS, will be closed from the afternoon of April 5 until April 10.
 
Based on Memorandum Circular No. 16, issued by Malacañang, work in government offices is suspended from 12 p.m. onwards on April 5. April 6 (Thursday) and 7 (Friday) are regular holidays.

April 10 (Monday) was also declared a regular holiday by the Palace in commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan, which is originally observed every April 9.
 
Veloso said the GSIS releases pension electronically through the Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card or temporary electronic card (eCard), which are issued by either the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Union Bank of the Philippines.
 
Pensioners may withdraw the cash from the nearest automated teller (ATM) machine. —VBL, GMA Integrated News