THERE’S another reason for gov’t pensioners to be happy.

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has released pension payments of old-age, disability, and survivorship ahead of schedule.

The release, according to the state pension fund, was made on April 6.

The GSIS regularly releases social security payments every eighth of the month.

The country has two upcoming regular holidays, namely, Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9 and Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan) on April 10 per Malacañang Proclamation No. 514.

GSIS president and General Manager Wick Veloso explained they are prioritizing the release of the pension payments this April as his agency joins the nation in the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan and celebration of the advent of Eid al-Fitr (April 10).

Almost P8 billion has been allotted for the monthly pension of more than 580,000 GSIS old-age, pensioners nationwide.

GSIS electronically credits the pension through the unified multipurpose identification (UMID) card or electronic card (eCard) issued by the Land Bank of the Philippines or the UnionBank of the Philippines.

Pensioners may withdraw the cash from the nearest automated teller (ATM) machine.

During the holidays, GSIS pensioners and members are advised to use the GSIS Touch Mobile app to transact online with the pension fund.

Members and pensioners may access the app to apply for loans and claims and check their GSIS records anytime, anywhere. Pensioners may also use the app to comply with their Annual Pensioners’ Information Revalidation (APIR).

GSIS Touch may be downloaded using a smartphone with Internet.

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While almost everybody is complaining about the hot weather in the country, the government is exploring ways to integrate more water management innovations in its mitigation efforts against the effects of El Niño on agriculture.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is already using foreign and local technologies to ensure that crops are well-maintained even during El Niño-induced droughts.

For De Mesa, there will always be room for improvement with regard to response. El Niño is all about water management interventions.

It was learned the DA is looking into sharing the alternate wetting and drying technology to more Filipino farmers, while considering other innovations such as fertigation (fertilizer integrated into irrigation) and drip technology for rice.

These are just among what the DA are considering for the next coming years. Some of these technologies are Israeli, some are not. The DA is considering all available technologies.

The effects of the El Niño phenomenon is expected to linger until June.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Ilan Fluss revealed Israel is ready to cooperate with the country in its need to source more water solution technologies.

During a previous meeting, Fluss shared that that no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. identified agriculture, water, and defense as priority areas for Philippines-Israel relations.

The Israel Embassy gathered nine Israeli firms during the forum to share modern water solutions to public and private stakeholders.

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