The Alliance of Concerned Teachers hailed the successful dialog between the ACT – Negros Island Region Union and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Bacolod Branch on Wednesday, Oct. 22, that resulted in the immediate approval of education loan reapplications that were mistakenly disapproved in recent months.
“In unity there is strength. In collective action there is victory. The dialog between ACT-NIR Union and GSIS with teachers who have issues regarding their reapplication of GFAL-EL was successful,” ACT-NIR Union Interim Secretary General Mary Grace Abellar said in a press release.
During the dialog, GSIS Bacolod Branch Manager Cecilia Tenaja confirmed that the mistakenly disapproved reapplications have been approved “immediately”, the press release said.
The dialog clarified that the disapprovals resulted from “miscommunication” and “misunderstanding” between GSIS and the Schools Divisions regarding the “enhanced policy” on approving new applications, Abellar said.
The dialog also revealed that teachers in Bacolod were not the only ones affected. GFAL-EL reapplications were also disapproved in Himamaylan and San Carlos, and possibly in other areas of Negros Occidental.
Teacher-members of ACT-NIR Union actively participated and voiced their grievances during the dialog
“This victory is not just for Bacolod but for the entire Negros Occidental, and serves as a case study for other regions in the country,” Abellar said.
“However, we will not stop struggling until GSIS policies become clear and, above all, serve the welfare of teachers”, she added.
The GSIS Bacolod Branch committed to process the mistakenly disapproved reapplications of the affected teachers who signed the position paper submitted by the ACT-NIR Union, the press release said.
Other affected teachers in the Divisions of Bacolod City, Himamaylan, and San Carlos who were unable to sign the position paper can also expect calls within 24 hours.
A significant outcome of the dialog was the agreement between GSIS Bacolod Branch and ACT-NIR Union to invite the union to all GSIS Bacolod Branch meetings. This agreement will be formalized in the coming weeks through a Memorandum of Agreement between the two organizations, the press release said.
Ruby Bernardo, ACT National Chairperson, said “the victory of ACT-NIR Union demonstrates the power of collective action and genuine unionism. When teachers organize and assert their rights, even institutions like GSIS must listen and act. This should inspire all teachers nationwide to join their unions and fight for their welfare and benefits.”*