Postal workers back in GSIS fold

THE WORKFORCE of the Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost), which is at least 11,000 strong, will again be in the Government Service Insurance System’s good graces as the postal firm settles unpaid premiums.

This means that current PHLPost employees, as well as retirees, will again have access to GSIS benefits by the first quarter of 2013.

GSIS president and general manager Robert G. Vergara and PHLPost chief executive Ma. Josefina M. dela Cruz earlier this month signed a memorandum of agreement to complete the “reconciliation” of their records.

This follows PHLPost’s decision to release funds, starting in 2011, to settle its financial obligations, including those to the GSIS, as well as to support efforts to revive the corporation.

According to the GSIS, PHLPost’s 8,121 employees provided for in the MOA can now file for a GSIS loan. Also, PHLPost retirees can expect adjustments in their pensions that correspond to their updated premium payments.

In 2010, GSIS revised its rules, which led to the loss of loan privileges of postal workers. PHLPost has been suspended due to its arrears.

Work on PHLPost’s reinstatement started last June through an initial MOA with GSIS.

Dela Cruz said in a statement that records covered in the MOA were from July 1997 to December 2011. These were mostly unremitted contributions of the previous PHLPost management.

So far, the settlement of membership contributions has covered workers in Luzon and the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.

“(I hope) to see the full reinstatement of all employees by the first quarter of 2013,” said dela Cruz, who is also postmaster general.