The Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT) has issued a strong critique of the Government Service Insurance System's (GSIS) recent policy, declaring that a three-month grace period on emergency loan payments fails to address the real needs of its members.
Moratoriums Compound Financial Burdens
ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo, in a statement published on November 13, 2025, emphasized that teachers and government workers require direct support and social security benefits, not another cycle of debt deferments that accumulate interest and increase arrears. The group argues that after every disaster, members are left to manage on their own while their financial obligations silently grow.
The teachers' group highlighted that most public school teachers and government workers have a limited capacity to recover from crises because their salaries remain far from decent and livable standards. This economic pressure forces many to borrow repeatedly just to cover basic expenses.
Concrete Demands for Immediate Relief
In response to the ongoing crisis, ACT has presented a list of urgent demands to the GSIS. They are calling for the immediate release of P20,000 in Emergency Social Security Cash Aid to all members and pensioners in calamity-stricken areas, without requiring them to take out new loans.
Furthermore, the organization insists that any calamity moratorium must come with zero compounding interest, zero penalties, and no capitalization of unpaid interest. They are also demanding a significant reduction in loan interest rates to levels that are genuinely affordable for members.
Accountability and Investment Transparency
The statement also addressed concerns regarding GSIS's investment strategies. ACT pointed to reported speculative and gambling-related investments and losses, insisting that these funds should have been directed toward members' welfare and disaster response.
To protect members, ACT urges GSIS to reorient its investments away from high-risk instruments and toward safe, development-oriented placements that directly benefit its members. The group is demanding a full public accounting of investment exposures and performance, as well as an independent and Commission on Audit-led special audit.
Finally, ACT is demanding compensation for all victims of calamities, seeking accountability from officials, lawmakers, and contractors implicated in corruption within flood-control projects. They also point to large corporations whose profit-driven operations degrade the environment and heighten disaster risks, stating that it is time to exact accountability and justice.
