Friday, February 08, 2008

Long Line of GSIS Pensioners at Union Bank in Iloilo City Waiting for Cash


Text and photos by Ambrosio R. Villorente
Instead of admiration, they are sympathized. But Mr. Winston Garcia, President/Chief Executive Officer of the Government Service Insurance System neither admire nor sympathize them. Witness these government pensioners queuing in front of the ATM booth, Union Bank, Iznart St., Iloilo City. Picture above is taken at about 9:00 o’clock in the morning, Monday, February 4, 2008. They are waiting for bank officer to reload the ATM with money as it is empty.

Picture was taken at about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Monday, February 4, 2008 shows the government pensioners lining to withdraw their monthly pension from the Union Bank, Iznart St., Iloilo City.
According to the security officer of the Amigo Terrace Hotel just in front of the Union Bank, the scenario is a common sight everyday.
People around and the passersby sympathize the senior citizens’ difficulty in withdrawing their government monthly pension as they suffer the difficulties. They should be admired after spending the best years of their lives serving the people. But no, they are symphatized because of their pains being experienced as they withdraw their own money.
The GSIS pension money is deposited with the Union Bank which has only one branch for Panay and Guimaras provinces. Their pension money can only be withdrawn using the e-card which is difficult to secure and it must be validated every year. This e-card makes life difficult for government pensioners.
To withdraw their pension money from other banks, P12.00 is charge for every withdrawal and P3.00 for every inquiry. /MP

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Bakit ba kasi UnionBank ang napili?
Meron ba talagang bidding?
Bukod sa napakaunti ng branch nila ay napakahirap pa tawagan ng customer service ng UnionBank.. Kung hindi busy, no officer available.. Ilang araw ang aabutin mo para lang meron ka makausap..
So kung meron ka credit card at nawala ito, baka meron ng ibang tao na makagamit nito kasi hindi mo maiireport na nawala ang card mo.
Booh sa GSIS at UnionBank!!

(Why did GSIS chose UnionBank?
Was there any bidding or public hearing?
UnionBank has very, i mean very few branches/atm.. Even their customer service is very difficult to reach. If the number is not busy (almost everytime), there is no officer available. It always take me days to be able to talk to one. So if you are a credit card holder and you lost your card, who knows, someone would already be able to use it because you are not able to report it's lost.
boohh to GSIS and UnionBank!!)