The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has released P3.9-billion in emergency loans for its members affected by Typhoon Pablo (international codename: Bopha).

The Insurance agency received over 213,000-loan applications since the loan window opened on December 7. Affected members may apply for an emergency loan until January 5, 2013.

The agency said in a statement that 90 percent of the loan applications filed were transacted online through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (G-w@ps) kiosks, enabling the pension fund to credit the loan proceeds to the UMID eCard accounts of members in just days.

The Insurance agency said that its members preferred transacting through the G-w@ps kiosks because of the greater convenience it provides. The pension fund has over \t “_blank” 700 G-w@ps kiosks deployed in agency’s branch offices throughout the country.

The program is open to GSIS members in Agusan del Norte and del Sur, Aklan, Antique, Basilan, Biliran sub-province, Bohol, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Capiz, Cebu, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Davao del Norte and del Sur, Davao Oriental, Iloilo, Lanao del Norte and del Sur.

The provinces of Leyte, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Saranggani, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur are also covered by the loan program.

In August, the agency provided a supplemental budget of P10 billion for the program. Parallel to the grant of emergency loans, the agency has offered a moratorium on loan repayment to both its members and pensioners residing in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Surigao del Sur—the provinces hardest hit by Pablo.

Application for the moratorium must be filed not later than January 15, 2013.

Insurance agency also said that members in Cagayan de Oro who have availed of the moratorium last year because of Typhoon Sendong (international codename: Washi) will be given a six-month extension.

For any inquiry about the emergency loan program, members may either call the GSIS hotline number at (02) 847-4747 or visit the GSIS office nearest them.