Friday, September 21, 2007 Speak out: Christmas bonus By Marilou F. Paredes 731 V. Rama Ave., Cebu City
(THIS letter is addressed to President Arroyo)
I am a surviving spouse of a government employee who had rendered invaluable service when he was alive.
I am writing this letter in behalf of all the other surviving pensioners who were deprived of Christmas bonus due us.
All of us, particularly those receiving minimal pensions, would like to appeal for your intercession in the reconsideration of a Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) policy of not granting us surviving pensioners Christmas bonus especially during the season when everybody is in need of extra money.
It is most pitiful that while the others are enjoying the celebration, our children is in one corner watching and envying those with new clothes, with the cupboard empty, with tears in their eyes, suffering because of the untimely demise of the breadwinner who is a GSIS member.
It is on record that previously surviving pensioners receive a one month equivalent of their pension but it was stopped the last three years as it is only a privilege given to those who had actively rendered service such as the old age pensioners, etc., thus this appeal.
Survivors with children deprived of their father or mother has to also celebrate Christmas like the others, and has the right to enjoy the season and not to be left out just because of the demise of a GSIS member.
If only the government can provide us with an amount enough for groceries, and a little extra money for clothes, etc.
With the income generated from the contribution of government workers that was also “wisely invested” by the GSIS management, something that the GSIS is so proud of, will it be too much to request this little extra for the sake of Christmas?
Hoping, Madam President, that this request will merit a favorable response from you and your staff and, once again, for humanitarian reason and for the sake of all the survivors of a government employee, especially the children deprived of their loved ones, we are praying that through your good self, the GSIS will be kind enough and humane enough to accede to our request.
