Ifugao: The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is preparing targeted measures to improve access to services for members and pensioners in remote areas, following a stakeholder dialogue in Ifugao province aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in benefit delivery. In a news release on Thursday, GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said the engagement underscored the importance of grounding reforms on the actual conditions faced by government employees and retirees in geographically isolated communities, where distance and limited connectivity often restrict access to services.
According to Philippines News Agency, the dialogue highlighted the necessity for more focused attention on communities like Ifugao, where access challenges are more pronounced. Veloso emphasized that government workers in such regions deserve increased support due to the hurdles they face with travel and limited resources. As part of the measures presented during the meeting, GSIS said it will expand its onsite presence in government offices by strengthening existing service desks and mobile caravans.
These initiatives will prioritize transactions that require personal assistance - such as enrollment, record updates, and claims concerns - to reduce follow-up visits. Veloso said GSIS is exploring the use of satellite connectivity for public schools and nearby government offices in Ifugao to support more reliable access to digital services. He noted that satellite-powered GSIS service desks could also provide internet access to schools and communities with limited connectivity.
Veloso added that the agency is developing a partnership model that may be adopted by the private sector, particularly through Adopt-a-School initiatives, to help sustain connectivity solutions in remote communities. 'The rice terraces of Ifugao were not built in one day. They were built slowly, patiently, together,' Veloso said, as he assured stakeholders of GSIS's continued presence and support in the province.
GSIS also said it is studying alternative offline submission options and fallback procedures for areas with unstable internet connectivity, along with dedicated assistance channels when systems become temporarily unavailable. During the dialogue, GSIS officials discussed the GSIS Touch mobile application and addressed questions on pension computation, loans, and other member concerns.
The agency said information sessions will increasingly be conducted in venues where government employees already gather, such as flag ceremonies and cluster meetings, and will be supplemented with printed reference materials. GSIS also said it will continue conducting stakeholder dialogues nationwide to ensure that reforms remain anchored on member feedback and that service delivery improvements reach communities across the country, particularly in far-flung areas.
