THE long queues and other woes of Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) pensioners in Bohol will soon be part of history. This after GSIS General Manager Winston Garcia agreed to the solution offered by Gov. Erico Aumentado. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo endorsed to Garcia the Aumentado solution over lunch in Malacañang that lasted two-and-a-half hours. The Aumentado solution intends to make all 22 branches of the First Consolidated Bank (FCB) in as many towns that dot Bohol as conduits for the pensions of GSIS retirees. “FCB will install automated teller machines (ATMs) in all its branches. In towns that have no FCB branch yet, the bank intends to arrange with the local government units for space where it will also set up ATMs,” the governor quoted Richard Uy, president of the FCB board as saying.

Aumentado said according to Uy, the move forms part of the bank's social responsibility. Apparently, the sight of pensioners forming a line – exposed to the heat of the sun or to the cold rain as the case may be – as they wait their turn at the ATM terminal at Union Bank near the Capitol tore at the governor's heart. Because he brought pictures of the queue to show to the President, he said they apparently tugged at her heartstrings, too, prompting her to call Garcia. Garcia has called Uy for initial discussions of next steps, Aumentado reported. The governor had expressed elation when, during one of their informal meetings with Uy, the latter brought up the issue and the two formulated the solution. While the change for the better in the pensioners' plight may not come overnight, Aumentado said gunning for this year is not too bad. After all, FCB has yet to acquire the ATMs.