MANILA -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will provide additional life insurance coverage to a total of 27,682 frontline workers of the government nationwide who are putting their lives at risk in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
This was announced Thursday by Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, President and General Manager of the state pension fund.
“The GSIS Board of Trustees, headed by our Chairman, former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, recently approved the establishment of the Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners (BFF), which entitles the survivors of government front-liners who died of Covid-19 to receive an additional PHP500,000 in insurance benefits,” Macasaet said.
He said the amount is on top of the PHP1-million death benefit to be provided by the government under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law and the regular life insurance benefit from GSIS.
As GSIS members, government frontline workers are automatically covered by the Enhanced Life Program (ELP) of GSIS which, upon the member’s demise, entitles his or her legal heirs to an insurance benefit equivalent to 150 percent of the annual salary of the member.
In addition to this, the same survivors will also receive PHP500,000 under the BFF program.
“For instance, the legal heirs of a government nurse who earns PHP30,000 a month will receive PHP540,000 (150 percent of the member’s annual salary) in insurance benefits from GSIS upon his or her death,” Macasaet said.
On top of this, the BFF program will pay his or her survivors an additional amount of PHP500,000 for a total of PHP1.04 million, he added.
“This is to show our appreciation for the courage, heroism and selfless dedication of our frontline workers in government. We hope that this will somewhat help assuage the grief felt by the families left behind by these heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Macasaet said.
Aside from doctors and nurses, the BFF program will cover other GSIS members involved in providing healthcare and assistance to Covid-19 patients, such as cardiovascular technologists (ECG, ultrasound), medical technologists, radiologists/X-ray technicians, pulmo-therapists, pulmonologists, nursing aides, pharmacists, ambulance drivers, administrative staff, housekeeping/janitors and security guards, among others.
The BFF insurance cover will be effective from March 1 to December 31, 2020. (PR)
