San Juan’s Formidable Force

 

SAN JUAN is said to be the smallest city in the Philippines. But it is one of the most popular.

First, since the city is named after Saint John the Baptist, his Feast Day, June 24, is wet and wild in San Juan as rowdy but good natured residents reenact that scene when John baptized Jesus—by pouring, okay, throwing,  water on one another or on passersby.
Second, San Juan boasts of Greenhills, a village of the elite which, unlike other exclusive,  gated enclaves, has welcomed everyone in its Greenhills Shopping Center, most popular during the Christmas season for its bargain gift items.
Third, San Juan has been known as the Town of Philippine Presidents as among its residents were four presidents: Diosdado Macapagal, his daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Ferdinand Marcos, and Joseph Estrada who became San Juan Mayor when it was still a municipality. His son, now Senator JV Ejercito, became Mayor who’s credited for such projects as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Museo ng Katipunan, and San Juan sports Arena— not to mention an unprecedent economic growth for San Juan from P300 million to P1 billion.

And fourth, San Juan continues to be in the limelight because today, its mayor is JV’s mother, Guia Gomez, who first caught public attention as an actress starring in several films, most popular of which was Asiong Salonga because that’s where she acted with and fell for Joseph Estrada.

Wise Move
In time, Guia Gomez would carve her own niche as a worthy public servant.
After all, she’s not just a pretty face. She finished her elementary education as valedictorian at the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos, and she aced high school at the Philippine Women’s College in Davao City.
Then, the young Guia started a career in showbiz but later decided to get a degree in Business Administration at the Philippine Women’s University. A wise move, for then she would need the management know-how as she accepted the challenge to manage San Juan— to continue what JV had started as a Master Plan for the city.
And now as a testament to Mayor Gomez’s management prowess, San Juan has received the Seal of Good Governance from the Department of  Interior and Local Government— awarded to cities with effective financial management, disaster preparedness, social protection, environmental protection, business-friendly government, and peace and order.
Election Controversy

Today, there’s a fifth reason San Juan is hogging the headlines: a controversy following the last local elections where Gomez won her third term. Former Vice Mayor Francis Zamora who ran against Gomez had asked for a recall of the election results.
It’s a bitter issue which Mayor Gomez couldn’t help sighing about when she was guest at a recent Bulong Pulungan dinner at the XO Restaurant in Estancia Mall, Pasig City.
Mayor Gomez sounded hurting as she said she had encouraged Zamora to pursue his political career.
“I treated him like he’s my own son,” she mused.

Moving On
Even as the election issue drags on, Mayor Gomez is focusing on her projects: the first in-city Medium Rise Building housing facility, now called St. Josephville, for 300 families that were fire victims two years ago; flood control pumping stations in various barangays, and a state-of-the-art, 100-bed capacity public hospital.
Soon to be finished are a new Justice Hall, new Disaster Management Center, K+12 School Building, Science High School, Voctech Center, Kabayanan In City Housing, and Batis In-City Housing.
Other projects include providing services in education and health care.
And in line with the recent national fight against the illegal drugs menace, Mayor Gomez continues to intensify efforts to make San Juan drug-free.
For the Bulong dinner, Mayor Gomez came in a sleek dress in orange, the color of Joseph Estrada’s political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. In English, Force of the Filipino Masses.
And, against all odds, Guia Gomez stands tall as that Formidable Force in little San Juan.

 

JOYFUL DAY, clockwise, from left: Mayor Guia delighted as Deedee Siytangco hands her a birthday bouquet;  With the Mayora, seated: Domini Torrevillas and Senator JV Ejercito; standing, from left: Jullie Yap Daza, Rina Jimenez and husband Pie,  Mila Alora, yours truly; Deedee Siytangco; Bob Zozobrado, and Saeed Daof; PR expert Helen Massab joins the party.

— Cynthia U. Santiago    Photos by Ed L. Santiago
 

 

 

GSIS offers emergency loan to members, pensioners affected by Marawi siege

 

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) opened its emergency loan program in Marawi City from July 5- August 3 to assist its  members and pensioners who have been affected by the armed conflict in the area.

Qualified to avail of the program are active GSIS members working or residing in Marawi City and old- age pensioners who are living in the area.

A total of 11, 128 members and 592 old-age pensioners are set to benefit from the program which has a total budget of Php282 million.

“Since the clashes between military forces and the terrorist group have been preventing the city council to convene and issue the required resolution declaring Marawi as a calamity area, GSIS decided to forego said requirement and immediately offered the loan to help its members and pensioners in the area,”  GSIS Officer in Charge Atty. Nora Malubay-Saludares said.

Members who are availing of the loan for the first time may apply for a P20,000 emergency loan, while those with loan balance may borrow P40,000. Old-age pensioners may apply for a P20,000 emergency loan. The deadline for the submission of loan application is August 3, 2017.

First-time borrowers may apply for a Php20,000 emergency loan. Those with existing emergency loan may borrow Php40,000, from which their outstanding balance will be deducted.

Active members may apply through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks located in all GSIS branch and extension offices; provincial capitols; city halls; selected municipal offices; large government agencies such as the Department of Education; Robinsons Malls; and selected SM City branches in North EDSA, Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and SM Aura in Taguig City.

Old-age pensioners may avail of the loan by personally applying at any GSIS branch office. Pensioners who have become active members anew after re-entering government service may apply for the loan only once.

The loan is payable in 36 equal monthly installments at six percent interest rate per annum. It is covered by a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrowers’ demise, provided that loan repayment is up to date.

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS eCard or unified multi purpose identification (UMID) card.

For more information, visit the GSIS website, www.gsis.gov.ph; call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747; or email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph.

Court convicted a woman for misrepresenting herself to claim SSS benefits

A WOMAN was convicted by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Naga for misrepresenting herself as the dependent mother of a deceased member to claim death benefit and by the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Naga for pretending to be the legal wife of her common-law husband, to claim funeral and death benefits under the Social Security System (SSS).

 

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said that Merly Solano Balquin first misrepresented herself as Rosita S. Buena, dependent mother of Cesar S. Buena Jr., who died in 2001. The second misrepresentation was committed in 2003, when Balquin pretended again to be Rosita, wife of deceased Cesar Buena Sr, to file funeral and death benefits.

 

“It was very clear that Balquin intended to defraud SSS by misrepresenting herself not only once but twice just to qualify as a beneficiary to claim SSS benefits. We are saddened that there are people who would do such act for their benefit but at the expense of the SSS and the real beneficiaries,” said Dooc.

 

According to Dooc, by misrepresenting herself as the dependent mother of the younger Buena, Balquin was convicted for violating Republic Act 8282 otherwise known as Social Security Act of 1997. She was ordered to serve a jail term of six years and to pay a fine amounting to P5,000.

 

On the other hand, for pretending to be the wife of the older Buena to claim funeral and death benefits, she was convicted of violating RA 8282 in relation to Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code. She was ordered to serve a jail term of six months and to pay a fine of P500.

 

Based on the decision from the RTC, Balquin pretended to be Rosita per instruction of Buena Sr. She signed the necessary documents including the Sinumpaang Salaysay, a requirement that both parents will sign and file the death claim application.

 

During the pendency of the case, Balquin refunded to the SSS the death benefit she received in the amount of P6,000 in three installments.  

 

“While we understand that the family has financial needs due to the death of Buena Jr., that did not justify the act of Balquin in misrepresenting herself to qualify as the beneficiary. Despite returning the money she received, she was still liable since she already committed the misrepresentation before the case was filed against her,” said Dooc.

 

On the second case, Balquin pleaded guilty to both charges of fraudulent funeral benefit claim and fraudulent death claim filed in MTC.  No objection was raised by the SSS, hence, the court ruled against Balquin.

 

“May this serve as a warning to everyone that misrepresenting yourself as someone else to qualify for SSS benefits is punishable under the SS Act. We do not tolerate such fraudulent act and we make sure that those who commit it, will be punished accordingly,” said Dooc.

 

At present, Balquin appealed the case which was decided by the RTC.