EASY ACCESS. State workers access a Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) kiosk in Quezon City on July 26, 2024. The GSIS on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) said it would implement Balik Ginhawa, a modified three-month loan moratorium to provide financial relief to government workers amid the impact of rising living costs. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will implement Balik Ginhawa, a modified three-month loan moratorium to provide financial relief to government workers amid the impact of rising living costs.
In a news release on Wednesday, the GSIS said that unlike a traditional loan moratorium where members temporarily stop paying and receive the benefit gradually over several months, Balik Ginhawa provides assistance through a refund mechanism, allowing members to receive the equivalent of three months’ loan amortizations in one lump sum.
Under the program, GSIS will continue loan deductions. The equivalent of three months of loan amortizations covering December 2025 to February 2026 will be returned to members through direct crediting to their accounts.
“This would enable members to immediately access a meaningful amount that they can use for urgent personal and household needs, instead of receiving smaller amounts spread out over time,” the GSIS release read.
Participation in the program is voluntary, the GSIS said. Members who wish to avail may apply through the GSIS Touch mobile application. Once approved, the loan term will be extended by three months without additional interest or penalties.
GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said Balik Ginhawa is designed to deliver immediate and more impactful assistance while safeguarding the long-term interests of members.
As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Filipinos absorb the surge in oil prices and soon the rise in energy and food costs. Since last month, pump prices have reached three-digit levels, putting a strain on the Filipino budget.
The initiative supports the broader whole-of-government approach under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport program of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA)