PASAY CITY -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) stepped up its efforts to offer Filipinos a place they can call their own through a series of online summits for one of its Ginhawa for All programs dubbed Lease with Option to Buy.

GSIS held two online Ginhawa for All Lease with Option to Buy summits. The participants of the summit in February 2022 were occupants of GSIS properties in the province of Bulacan.

GSIS started its online summits in November last year, which was conducted in coordination with the City Government of Antipolo. It was held to help the city’s Informal Settler Families and other parties who may also be interested to rent out GSIS’s housing units. The participants who attended the first online summit are representatives from the City Government and various community or homeowners associations in different areas of Antipolo City.

According to President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, the personal experiences and positive stories shared by those who have recently availed of the program have inspired GSIS to intensify its Ginhawa for All Lease with Option to Buy information drive.

“Alam ninyo po, it’s so heart-warming to hear your stories. ‘Yan po ang “psychic income” naming mga public servant or people in government – ang makita na nakakatulong kami; to see that we have somehow made a difference in people’s lives at makapag-bigay ng ginhawa. Giginhawa na ang inyong pagtira sa inyong tahanan at hindi na kayo mangangamba na papaalisin kayo. Talagang ginhawang bahay, ginhawang buhay,” Macasaet said.

Moreover, the pension fund chief requested the occupants to take good care of GSIS properties. “Alagaan po ninyong mabuti ang property kasi kung kayo po ay nakaka-ahon o nakaka-angat na sa buhay, puwede ninyo na pong bilhin ang property na ito sa amin. As the current occupant, kayo po ang mabibigyan ng “option-to-buy,” he added.

Under the Ginhawa for All Lease with Option to Buy program, GSIS offers its housing units to its informal occupants to give them a chance to legalize their stay with an option to eventually buy the property. Other unoccupied houses and lots are open to Filipinos as well under the program.  The lease agreement will be valid for one year renewable at the option of the GSIS.

GSIS has a total of 11,317 available properties for rent nationwide as of January 31, 2022. The highest concentration of said properties lies in the province of Bulacan, which has a total of 4,625 (40.86%) rentable properties; followed by Nueva Ecija, with a total of 1,659 (14.66%); and Pampanga with 1,241 (11%).

Of the 4,625 Bulacan properties, about 4,562 houses and lots and 63 lots are spread in the cities of Malolos, Meycauayan, and San Jose Del Monte, as well as municipalities of Plaridel, San Rafael, and Sta. Maria. About 80% of the GSIS properties in Bulacan are currently occupied.

GSIS also has 423 properties in Antipolo Highlands; 74 in Bagong Nayon, Bagong Nayon; and 171 in Cogeo Village, Bagong Nayon.

GSIS eyes on holding its next summit for interested residents in Zamboanga this May. It will also hold summits in other areas of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to assist as many informal settlers as possible.

As of March 2022, 1,241 inquiries were received and 932 applications have already been processed.

Prospective applicants and other interested parties who have inquiries on GFAL LWOB may visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph, or GSIS Facebook page, @gsis.ph; email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph  or gsisrpamdcst@gsis.gov.ph; or call the GSIS Real Property Accounts Management Department (RPAMD) at (02) 8479-3600 and (02) 7976-4900, local numbers 3374, 3396, and 3425. (GSIS)