THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has concluded its investigation over the supposed importation of P300,000 metric tons of sugar.

It was clear that several officials of the Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) erred in issuing Sugar Order No.4 which would have allowed the unnecessary purchase of sugar outside the country to the detriment of local farmers.

What should be stressed is that Malacanang has nothing to do with the issuance of the ‘illegal’ sugar order. In fact, it was the Palace that took immediate action against it. In doing so, Malacanang prevented what has been perceived as a ‘corrupt’ undertaking and saved the local sugar industry.

Meanwhile, the Palace should be commended for assuring Congress that all members of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet will show up in congressional inquiries if invited to testify as resource persons.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles made this remark after Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez appeared at the Senate inquiry into the sugar importation mess after the blue ribbon panel had agreed to subpoena him.

The Executive Secretary attended the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and has answered all questions to the satisfaction of members of the committee.

“Cabinet Members who are called to testify as resource persons in any inquiry will continue to extend all courtesies to the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Cruz-Angeles said.

She added the President welcomes any move by Congress to check allegations of anomalous transactions in government, adding that it bolsters the administration’s campaign for transparency in governance.

Cruz-Angeles also said it has “always” been a policy of the President to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

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There’s no stopping the state pension fund from further improving its services to government workers.

Just recently, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) partnered with M. Lhuillier to further enhance customer experience by expanding its loan payment solutions to nearly 5,600 collection sites.

The expansion was formalized after GSIS and M. Lhuillier signed a memorandum of agreement. M. Lhuillier is one of the biggest nonbank financial services network with a total of 2,576 branches located in cities, towns, and far-flung barangays all over the country.

“We welcome this partnership with M. Lhuillier particularly its strategic presence in the South as 40% of our members and pensioners are in Visayas and Mindanao,” said GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso.

“We are bringing our ginhawa services closer to our members and pensioners by engaging more payment channels so that our stakeholders need not visit our offices. This will also complement GSIS’s efforts to improve our loan collection efficiency,” Veloso pointed out.

“We are honored to be a part of the GSIS payment platforms for the greater convenience of its members and pensioners. We look forward to growing this partnership. Lahat pwede or what we call ‘pwede-bilities’ when you partner with M. Lhuillier,” said M. Lhuillier President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lhuillier.

M. Lhuillier now joins Bayad in accepting GSIS advance loan payments. To date, it has collected P173 million in loan payments with Bayad’s nearly 3,000 payment centers. “We hope to double this feat with M. Lhuillier’s payment solutions of over 2,500 centers.”

Loan payments from members are also now accepted through the online apps of Union Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines. This means more GSIS funds can be made available for our members and pensioners who are in need.

The GSIS plans to enter into similar agreements with other payment service providers in the coming months to bring its payment channels to 10,000 over-the-counter and online outlets to enhance its customer experience.

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