By Alice Sicat
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Thousands of government employees and pensioners with existing loans stand to receive additional financial relief after the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) expanded its Balik Ginhawa Program, allowing qualified borrowers to recover up to six months’ worth of eligible loan amortizations.
The enhanced Balik Ginhawa 2 (Loan Moratorium Through Refund) Program, which officially opened on July 1, forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to provide more responsive assistance to public servants in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve the delivery of government services.
Under the expanded program, qualified GSIS members and pensioners may apply for refunds covering eligible loan payments made from December 2025 to May 2026, giving them additional funds that they can use for immediate financial needs.
GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said the enhanced program was designed to provide borrowers with greater financial flexibility.
“Patuloy na pinalalawak ng GSIS ang mga programang nagbibigay ng tunay na ginhawa sa ating mga miyembro at pensioners. Balik Ginhawa 2 was designed to give our members and pensioners additional financial breathing room. Through the enhanced program, qualified borrowers may recover up to six months of loan amortizations and use the refunded amount for their immediate needs,” Veloso said.
Applications will be accepted until Oct. 31, 2026, through the GSIS Touch mobile application, where members can also verify their eligibility and monitor their loan status.
The expanded coverage includes active GSIS loan accounts, including housing loans, except those under the Ginhawa Green Loans Program such as the Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan and the Ginhawa Bike and E-Mobility Loan.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the enhanced program now allows more borrowers to qualify, including those with loan arrears, provided their accounts have not yet been classified as due and demandable.
“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., mas pinalawak, mas pinadali, at mas pinalaki ang Balik Ginhawa 2 ng GSIS para mas marami pang miyembro at pensioners ang makikinabang,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing.
She added that the initiative aims to ease the financial burden on GSIS members while encouraging them to keep their loan accounts in good standing.
Members who previously received refunds under the first phase of the Balik Ginhawa Program may still qualify for additional refunds under the expanded version, subject to a maximum equivalent of six monthly loan amortizations.
GSIS also clarified that loan payments covered by the refund program will not be treated as missed payments or loan arrears.
“This means that qualified members who avail themselves of the program will not be penalized simply because the refunded months will reflect as unpaid. These periods are covered by the moratorium and are not treated as loan arrears,” Veloso explained.
However, the program excludes loan accounts that are already due and demandable, fully paid or renewed loans, members with pending retirement or separation benefit claims at the time of application, those without a designated GSIS bank account, and advance payments made before a loan’s first due date.
Refunds will be credited directly to the member’s enrolled GSIS bank account after approval. Since participation is voluntary, eligible borrowers must submit their applications through the GSIS Touch app before the October 31 deadline.
GSIS encouraged members and pensioners to visit its official website and social media platforms or access the GSIS Touch mobile application for complete guidelines and eligibility requirements. (AVS / PIA-NCR)
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