Question & AnswerQ&A (GSIS Resolution NO. 184)
The eCard Cash Advance Program (eCAD) is a loan facility offered by GSIS in 2004 to provide emergency cash assistance to members and to encourage enrollment in the GSIS eCard.
Two more cash advance programs followed eCAD: the eCard Plus Cash Advance (eCAP) launched in 2006 and the eCard Cash Advance III (eCAT) launched in 2010.
The eCAP was launched to encourage enrollment in the GSIS eCard Plus, while the eCAT was launched to encourage enrollment in the Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Card.
The UMID Card is a two-year-old identification card that members are already aware of, signifying its established importance and recognition among GSIS members.
The granting of eCAD was terminated when the new cash advance program eCAP was launched in 2006, following the policy that each new program replaces the previous one.
The granting of eCAP was terminated when the eCAT program was launched in 2010.
The GSIS cited the low rate of availment and the program's point of saturation, indicating that the eCAT loan is no longer necessary for GSIS members.
The termination of the eCAT loan took effect not earlier than June 2013, as approved by the GSIS Resolution No. 184 dated December 14, 2012.
The Senior Vice President of the Controller Group recommended the termination in her memorandum dated December 5, 2012.
The GSIS policy is that the granting of the older cash advance program ends with the launch of a new cash advance program to encourage member enrollment to newer identification cards and loan facilities.