The Alliance of Concerned Teachers–Negros Island Region Union (ACT-NIR Union) announced the approval of previously disapproved GFAL-Education Loan (GFAL-EL) reapplications following a dialogue with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Bacolod Branch.

Prior to this, ACT NIR Union formally filed a letter and position paper before the GSIS Bacolod Branch on October 17.

ACT-NIR Union Interim Secretary General Mary Grace Abellar said, “Sa paghiliusa may kabakod. Sa kolektibo nga paghulag may pagdaog.”

During the meeting, GSIS Bacolod Branch Manager Cecilia Tenaja confirmed that the reapplications were “immediately approved” after being mistakenly disapproved.

Teachers present at the dialogue became emotional upon learning that they would no longer face delays in accessing funds for their children’s education.

GSIS clarified that the disapprovals resulted from “miscommunication” and “misunderstanding” with Schools Divisions over the agency’s enhanced policy on loan approvals.

Similar disapprovals of GFAL-EL reapplications were also reported in Himamaylan and San Carlos, and possibly in other parts of Negros Occidental.

GSIS Bacolod Branch committed to process the mistakenly disapproved reapplications immediately and to contact concerned teachers within the next day.

Abellar said, “Ang ini kadalag-an, indi lang sa Bacolod kundi sa bilog nga Negros Occidental, kag case study sa iban pa nga mga rehiyon sa pungsod.”

She added, “Pero wala kita nagapundo sa paghulag nga ang mga polisiya ni GSIS mangin halog kag labaw sa tanan para sa kaayuhan sang mga manunudlo.”

ACT-NIR Union and GSIS Bacolod Branch agreed to formalize a partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will include the union in future GSIS branch meetings.

Abellar said the union would continue to call for accountability regarding GSIS investments.

“Upod sini, padayon nga magapanawagan ang unyon sang teachers diri sa Negros para sa accountability sa pagbutang sa katalagman sang kwarta sang mga miyembro sang GSIS paagi sa pagsugal sini, nga subong nagalambot na sa 8.8 billion ang kapierdihan,” Abellar said.

She also condemned the alleged misuse of teachers’ contributions, saying, “Ang laban sa kwarta nga napierdi halin sa pangabudlay sang mga teacher nga padayon nga ginadingutan sang makabuhi nga benepisyo, samtang nagapasasa sila sa kaban sang pungsod.”

The ACT-NIR Union said it would continue to stand for the rights and welfare of all teachers in Negros Island.