More priority lanes for teachers, DepEd personnel —GSIS

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 25)—More priority lanes for public school teachers and other education department personnel will be established for better access to services in regional and central offices, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced Monday.

GSIS President and General Manager Jose Veloso inked a memorandum of agreement with Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) chief Sara Duterte on "providing ultimate customer experience to teachers and other DepEd personnel."

"Nakita namin doon sa tally ng mga paaralan na nabisita namin nasa top two lagi ang GSIS complaint," Duterte said during the MOA signing on Monday.

[Translation: We saw in the schools that we visited that GSIS was ranked top two in the tally of complaints.]

She added some of the concerns of DepEd employees related to GSIS services are decades old.

"Matagal na po talaga iyong paulit-ulit nilang tanong at reklamo at napansin namin marami sa mga concerns ay nasasagot naman kaagad kulang lang siguro sa paglapit," she said.

[Translation: They have been repeatedly inquiring and telling us about their concerns, we noticed that their concerns can be easily answered, it just needed more attention.]

Duterte said DepEd personnel compose more than half of the state pension fund's membership.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) earlier said most public-school teachers have taken out loans from the GSIS.

Veloso said officers will be assigned to work exclusively on issues encountered by DepEd personnel.

The GSIS also committed to host an annual dialogue with DepEd schools' division and regional offices to address loan and premium related concerns.

"Ako po ay naniniwala na walang tatalo pa rin sa isang tao na nakikipag-usap at nagbibigay ng paliwanag at binibigyan ng comfort ang ating may mga katanungan para masagot ang kanilang mga pangangailangan," Veloso added.

[Translation: I believe that a person who talks and gives explanations is the best, and when a person gives comfort to those people who are seeking answers for their needs.]