Pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System yesterday appealed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to intervene in their complaints against the agency, among them, the implementation of the E-Card Plus and the suspension of the 10 percent annual increase in their pension.

Pensioner Romeo Lavilla Sr. said that before the appointment of Winston Garcia as president of the GSIS, pensions were released on time and they were enjoying an automatic annual increase of 10 percent. "All these changed under Garcia's leadership, with most pensioners enduring delays in the release of their pensions," Lavilla said.

Benefits given to survivors were also suspended, a manifestation of a restrictive system that work against GSIS members, he added.

Lavilla said most pensioners prefer the old procedure in the release of pension which was through issuance of checks.

"The E-Card Plus disrupted our financial needs, particularly, in the purchase of medicines and payment of our immediate needs for we are dependent on our GSIS monthly pensions," the pensioners stated in their letter to President Arroyo.

Lavilla's co-signatories in the letter were Alfredo Gonzales, president of Bacolod Association of Retired Public Schools Administrators and Marcos Templado, former division supervisor of the City Schools Division.

Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental passed a resolution urging the GSIS president to take appropriate action in connection with the processing of the E-Card of old age pensioners to avoid suspension of their pension payments.

In the resolution, SP members cited that pensioners are highly dependent on their monthly pensions for sustenance and most of them are already physically handicapped.

The provincial board also urged the GSIS to extend immediate assistance to the aged pensioners in the processing of their E-Cards.*NAB

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