LEGAZPI CITY -– An organization of retired government employees here has taken to task the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its failure to remit through the E-Card plus the monthly pensions on time.

        The Association of Retired Government Employees and Pensioners Inc. (ARGEP), headed by President Antonio M. Monzon, recently passed a resolution urging the GSIS to expedite the release of the monthly pensions.

        Cezar Vibar, ARGEP vice president, said that he himself has not yet received his pensions for December 2007 and January 2008.

        Vibar said he had sponsored the resolution because some GSIS pensioners in Albay have not yet received their monthly pensions on time.

        He identified some of the retirees who have not yet received their pensions for the months of November, December, 2008 and January, 2008 as Bienvenido Jacob of Bacacay, and Jeremias Nuñez.

        Other pensioners from Albay who have been complaining to the association over the delay of their monthly pensions for December 2007 and January 2008 included Vivencio Ortile, Renee Paje, Nelie Cox, Rogelio Oropesa and Helen Olayta all of Guinobatan, Albay.

        Vibar disclosed that he had gone to Leon Ma. Fajardo, GSIS Legazpi area manager, on December 20 and 27, 2007 and on January 3, 2008 complaining that his E-Card plus could not be validated since Nov. 3, 2007.

        On the other hand, Mozon stressed that “the failure to credit the pensions is in violation of the agreement between the GSIS and the Union Bank that pensions must be credited on the first day of the month.”

        “As owners of the GSIS, we have the right to demand from the GSIS top management a certified statement of their operation, the ARGEP president said.”

        The ARGEP resolution requests “the GSIS board of trustees to inform the association in writing why such delayed release of pensions are happening causing so much hardships, mental anguish among retired public servants who need their benefits on the first day of the month.”

        Copies of the resolution were to be furnished the GSIS Legazpi manager and Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda for their information and action.

        Meanwhile, the ARGEP general assembly has been tentatively set for Jan. 20, 2008 at the LCC Food Court.