The situation, in brief
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is reminding its 2.7 million members and pensioners that its Balik Ginhawa loan relief program is still accepting applications until October 31, 2026, with GSIS President and CEO Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso adding on Saturday, April 25, that even…
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is reminding its 2.7 million members and pensioners that its Balik Ginhawa loan relief program is still accepting applications until October 31, 2026, with GSIS President and CEO Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso adding on Saturday, April 25, that even members who take out a solar loan can apply.
Veloso reiterated the mechanics of Balik Ginhawa during an interview on DZRH’s Special on Saturday, saying the program credits back three months of loan amortizations — covering December 2025 to February 2026 — in a single lump sum, with no additional interest and no penalties.
“Mag-apply ka ngayon, maximum of 3 days, 30,000 naka-credit sa account mo,” he said, using a borrower paying ₱10,000 a month as an example of how quickly and concretely the relief is felt compared to a conventional moratorium.
Veloso drew a clear distinction between Balik Ginhawa and a moratorium, saying the program actually returns money already paid rather than simply deferring future payments, giving borrowers immediate liquidity to cope with rising fuel and commodity prices.
In a new clarification on April 25, Veloso confirmed that members who avail of the agency’s newly launched solar panel loan can still apply for Balik Ginhawa — though he noted the combination effectively triggers an immediate restructuring of the borrower’s account.
Applications are processed entirely through the GSIS Touch mobile app, with Veloso saying approvals in many cases arrive within 12 to 24 hours — faster than the stated three-day maximum.
To qualify, a member must have an existing GSIS loan with payments made in December, January, and February. Members with arrears, due and demandable obligations, or no existing loan are not eligible.
As of April 20, GSIS had released ₱7.3 billion in refunds to 525,447 members and pensioners under the program, which remains open until October 31, 2026.
