Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Is GSIS Anti–Filipino?

“The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is not anti Filipino,” explained a GSIS member. “It is the management which is anti Filipino headed by its Chairman/General Manager Winston Garcia,” he added.
This explanation came after a fellow GSIS member stated that the GSIS is anti Filipino because of the announcement “the GSIS has awarded the US $1 billion Global Investment Program (GIP) to the ING and Credit Agricole Asset Management.
The two GSIS members mutually expressed their disappointment over the US $1 billion awarded to foreign investment management firms. They cannot understand why the GSIS has awarded the money of the GSIS members to foreigners when the Philippines is strongly inviting foreigner investors to invest and to do business in the Philippines. After less than one hour of exchanges of ideas between the two with the EF listening, they finally agreed” the GSIS management is anti Filipino and not the GSIS itself.” Further, the two agreed the GSIS needs to restudy its policies with the view to rationalize it in favor of the Filipino, particularly to its members.

Still In Third Floor

In Aklan, the GSIS field office is still located in the third floor of the Aklan Provincial Capitol Bldg., Estancia, Kalibo. To recall, Atty. Jesusa Ruby A. Teruel of the GSIS, Roxas City Branch assured the Government Retirees of Libacao (GROL) that the “GSIS office will be relocated to the ground floor immediately as soon as a suitable space is available. The money for room rental is already available,” assured Atty. Teruel on July 9, 2007.
Until today, the GSIS field office in Kalibo, Aklan is still located in the third floor of the Provincial Capitol Bldg. Thanks to Atty. Teruel who is not capable to honor her commitment to the government retirees. Meanwhile, the government retirees and government employees who are soon to retire continue suffering the pain and grasp for air badly whenever they transact business with the GSIS, Kalibo ascending and descending the third floor of the capitol building.
In view of this anti Filipino policy of the GSIS and its shabby treatment to its members, there is now a deliberate, calculated, slow but sure move of the Philippine Public Schools Teachers Association to put up a DepEd insurance group and sever relation from the GSIS.
This is a sad development. It will disintegrate the GSIS into pieces. At present, members of the judiciary are not included with the GSIS retirement plan, it has its own. Likewise, the Philippines National Police officers and men are not insured with GSIS. The PNP has its own insurance group.
In her “A Look at RP Corruption”, Solita Collas – Monsod on November 3, 2007, Philippine Daily Inquirer cited “the multi-million peso GSIS e-Card project…‘won’ by the Aboitiz – controlled Union Bank (the Aboitizes are perceived by many to be very close to President Macapagal – Arroyo and the First Gentleman).”
Yes, but why did Mr. Winston Garcia place the money of the GSIS members in the Union Bank which has only a diminutive branch in Iloilo City? Corruption my dear? For any Aklanon whose money is deposited with the Union Bank and withdraw it in Kalibo, he/she must pay P12 per withdrawal.
This is unnecessary expense spent because of Garcia. Just select between the dismissal of Mr. Winston Garcia from the GSIS or transfer GSIS money from Union Bank to any government bank.
But let us watch for Winston Garcia has another focus. He wants to deep his “clean” fingers into the coppers of the Pag Ibig fund.

Congratulations To Jonathan and Noel

Congratulations to Mr. Jonathan Cabrera and Mr. Noel Cabobos for going deeper into the computer mess. This computer purchased at P250,000 per unit which can be easily purchased in Kalibo, Aklan at P20,000 is wholesale corruption in the Arroyo administration. Who is behind this anomaly?
This P250,000 per unit of computer is insult to the Filipino, an open defiance of auditing and accounting laws, rules and regulations. This is the work of a reckless, greedy person sans respect of the Filipino. He is greedy, “soeok, maakup, hakog, dalok” in Aklanon.
EF has started the exposure of this highly expensive computer in this column on October 7-13, 2007 issue in MP sub headed as “Computer at P240,000 Each”.

Suggestion

According to Dr. Victorina Laroza, Aklan Schools Division Superintendent, this system of schools prioritization and purchasing of equipment and materials will lead Filipinos to extreme poverty. Inspite of the efforts of Mr. Jonathan Cabrera and Mr. Noel Cabobos to report this matter to the DepEd through Dr. Victoriano Tirol, Regional Director, DepEd, Region VI, nothing is done to check the anomaly if not stop.
By way of suggestion, Dr. Laroza with the assistance of the principals of the recipient schools may gather this 48 computers into one place and request the supplier to pull it out from Aklan for the reasons as follows: 1. highly overpriced; 2. of very poor quality as some are already damaged; 3. Aklan DepEd and the Aklanons are not in a position to tolerate corruption; and 4. other reasons.
How about these Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores? Governor Carlito S. Marquez? Will you tolerate? /MP