CEBU CITY — The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has started releasing refunds to qualified members and pensioners in Central Visayas under its Balik Ginhawa Loan Moratorium Through Refund program.

This is part of a nationwide payout of over P19 billion, expected to benefit about 1.37 million government workers and retirees.

Unlike a usual loan moratorium where payments are temporarily stopped, this program works differently. Members continue paying their loans as scheduled, but GSIS returns the equivalent of three months’ worth of payments in one lump sum. These cover payments made from December 2025 to February 2026.

Instead of pausing payments, the program effectively extends the loan term by three months.

According to GSIS Region 7 Staff Officer III Noreen P. Mayol, the program aims to provide immediate financial relief without interrupting regular loan payments.

She explained that GSIS will refund the amount equivalent to three months of loan repayments made during the covered period.

Who can qualify

Joining the program is voluntary. To qualify, a member must:

Have an active loan
Have at least one payment made between December 2025 and February 2026
Have no unpaid or overdue loans
Accounts that are already in arrears or considered due and demandable are not included.

The program covers various GSIS loan types, such as Ginhawa, emergency, housing, pension, and education loans, among others.

Refund amount and release

Qualified members may receive up to P111,000, depending on their loan type and monthly payments.

The refund will be directly credited to the member’s registered account, such as their UMID-linked account, UnionBank of the Philippines, or Land Bank of the Philippines.

How to apply

Members can apply through the GSIS Touch app by selecting the Balik Ginhawa option under the request section.

A step-by-step guide is available on GSIS’ official Facebook page.

Senior citizens and pensioners who need assistance may visit the GSIS Region 7 branch, where staff are ready to help with applications.

Members may also book an appointment through the app’s Online Buddy feature or send inquiries via email at balikginhawa@gsis.gov.ph.

The deadline for filing applications is October 31, 2026.