GSIS speeds up loan refunds; credits released within 3 days

MANILA, Philippines — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has shortened the processing time for loan refunds under its “Balik Ginhawa” program, with approved applications now credited to members’ accounts within three working days.

GSIS Executive Vice President Joseph Philip Andres said the faster turnaround is part of efforts to provide immediate financial relief to government workers and pensioners amid rising living costs.

“Within three working days po, ito po ay maki-credit na po sa kanilang ATM, sa loob po ng tatlong working days ay maibabalik na po sa kanila ang kanilang refund," Andres said in an interview on Friday, April 10. 

(Within three working days, it will be credited to their ATM, and within those same three working days, they will receive their refund)

Under the program, members may receive refunds equivalent to up to three months of loan amortizations, covering payments made from December 2025 to February 2026, provided they have no arrears.

Andres explained that while monthly deductions will continue, the loan term will be extended by three months without additional interest or penalties.

“Wala po itong cost sa kanila. Ipu-push out lang po natin by three months ang end ng kanilang amortization period,” he said.

(There is no cost to them. We will simply extend the end of their amortization period by three months.)

He added that refund amounts may range from about P12,000 to P117,000, depending on a member’s monthly amortization.

Since its rollout, more than 453,000 members and pensioners have already received refunds totaling over P6.5 billion, out of an estimated P19 billion allocation benefiting around 1.37 million qualified borrowers.

Applications are processed fully online through the GSIS Touch mobile app, where members can file requests, check estimated refunds, and monitor approval status in real time.

The program will run until Oct. 31, 2026 and is part of the government’s broader measures to ease financial pressures on households affected by the ongoing energy crisis.