An ongoing computer systems update within the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has been causing the delay in the processing of loan applications of many employees from the lower courts. 

This was officially confirmed by the GSIS after recently meeting with Supreme Court officials in light of numerous complaints received by the SC from lower court judges and personnel over difficulties in securing GSIS loans. This also refutes earlier claims that the cause of the problem was the SC’s failure to remit its employees’ monthly contributions.

Court Administrator Zenaida N. Elepaño and Chief of the Finance Management Office, Office of the Court Administrator (FMO-OCA) Atty. Lilian C. Barribal-Co, together with Atty. Belen C. Gatdula from the Office of Assistant Court Administrator Nimfa C. Vilches and other personnel from the Office of Administrative Services, OCA (OAS-OCA), met with GSIS Senior Vice President Robert M. Agustin and GSIS Administrative Service Officer Rodrigo H. Manuel on May 12, 2008 upon OCA’s request to discuss what the FMO describes as a perennial complaint among the lower courts.
 
According to SVP Agustin, the GSIS is going through an internal change of system for upgrading purposes which may be causing the discrepancies in their records, hence the problems in the loan application process. 

As to reports of allegations by GSIS regional offices that the SC has failed to remit premium payments, SVP Agustin suggested that this might have been a result of miscommunication between the regional officers and the loan applicants as GSIS personnel are prohibited to disclose information on an agency’s non-remittance.

SVP Agustin assured the SC officials that the GSIS is now implementing corrective measures. He thus requested for the observance of a one-week adjustment period for system uploading for the elimination of the recurring problems.  It was also agreed that a continuing meeting every two months would be held for further discussion, reports, and updates.

In the meantime, those who continue to experience problems with their loan applications are advised to make a written complaint to the Remittance Division of the FMO-OCA for immediate action.

As early as February this year, FMO has sent an official inquiry to the GSIS Central Office, through SVP Agustin, seeking information on the loan application problems reported by lower court judges and personnel. Complaints received by the FMO show that whenever these employees verify their records in GSIS Kiosks, what appear are notices of either the employer’s (the SC’s) suspension or the non-submission of member’s account/profile. FMO records, however, show that the SC has been submitting all its remittances to GSIS on time and in fact are properly receipted by the GSIS.  

Upon follow-up with the GSIS, FMO learned that its letter-inquiry dated February 12, 2008 had been endorsed on March 24, 2008 to GSIS Manager Lucio Yu of the Billing, Reconciliation, and Collection, NCR-Luzon Group. FMO then sent a second letter-inquiry to Yu on April 21, 2008 to follow up on the same matter. However, FMO still failed to get any response from the GSIS.

Meanwhile, a group of employees from the Naga City Regional Trial Court sent a petition letter to Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno on April 10, 2008 seeking assistance with their problem in securing loans from GSIS. The petition, signed by 122 court personnel, claims that while the employees’ pay slips show their monthly deduction for GSIS, GSIS-Naga City has been denying their loan applications due to the SC’s alleged failure to update its remittances.

Upon referral to the OCA by the Chief Justice, FMO verified that both the Naga City RTC and the SC were able to remit on a monthly basis all GSIS premium payments of the petitioner-employees. These transactions were also duly receipted by the GSIS.

When informed of the SC’s compliance with the remittances as supported by both FMO’s records and the GSIS-issued receipts, Ms. Nellie Somera-Camo, GSIS Naga District Office Head, made a random check to test the status of the membership of several RTC employees. It was then discovered that the last update made by the GSIS on the employees’ records was in November of last year. Camo then promised to advise the GSIS Central Office to adjust and update their posting to reflect the actual remittance made by the SC.

SVP Agustin met with SC OAS Chief Atty. Eden T. Candelaria and OAS-OCA Chief Atty. Caridad A. Pabello on May 2, 2008 for an initial discussion of the loan application complaints.