The Benguet GSIS Pensioners Association regrets to share the sentimental envy on salary standardization increases, as well as continuous upgrading of compensations for government officials and employees, that excluded Government Service Insurance System pensioners. The generous action of President Rodrigo Duterte in updating benefits of Social Security System pensioners, did not include the GSIS pensioners.
Consequently, the GSIS pensioners, who retired from service 10 to 20 years ago, particularly those who retired before the full implementation of Salary Standardization Law, are actually living below poverty level and presently living a miserable life, because of dormant and meager pension, that could hardly afford the high cost of living nowadays, compounded by the medical, and hospitalization necessities among elderlies.
The aggrieved GSIS pensioners are therefore reminding concerned authorities to please be aware on the provision of Republic Act 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, particularly Sec. 6 which deals on the benefits and privileges for retirees.
Sec. 6 states: “Retirement benefits of retirees from both the government and the private sector shall be regularly reviewed every year to ensure their continuing responsiveness and sustainability, and to the extent practicable and feasible, shall be upgraded to be at par with the current scale enjoyed by those in actual service.”
Hence, the agonizing pensioners respectfully appealed for the annual upgrading of monthly pension to at least 10 percent gradual increment every year; the granting of 13th month pension, that may be released within the birth month as birthday gift; and to increase the Christmas bonus from P10,000 to P20,000 every December.
However, the GSIS management refused to grant the common appeal despite the fact that the appeal for upgrading of pension is a mandated policy of delivering social justice and an obligation to maintain sustainable benefits of retirees. — AGAPITO P. DELMAS, La Trinidad, Benguet
October 3, 2023