The Ginhawa Bike and E-Mobility Loan Program, or GBEL, is a GSIS loan program that lets qualified members borrow money specifically to buy a bicycle, e-bike, or other electric mobility device. It’s part of the government’s broader UPLIFT framework (Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport), a response to rising fuel costs and global economic pressures affecting Filipino workers.
In simpler terms, GBEL exists to make everyday mobility more affordable, more resilient, and less dependent on gas prices.
What Exactly Does GBEL Cover?
GBEL isn’t limited to traditional bicycles. It covers any brand-new manual bike or electric-powered personal mobility device, regardless of brand or configuration, as long as it’s genuinely new. That includes:
- Personal mobility scooters
- Electric kick scooters
- Electric bicycles (pedal-assist, throttle-controlled, e-MTBs, folding, and commuter/road e-bikes)
- Light e-scooters
- Electric mopeds
- Electric cargo bikes
- Electric fat-tire bikes
- Electric mini-bikes and compact e-mobility units
- Other comparable electric-powered personal transport units
Members are responsible for confirming that whatever they buy meets DTI safety standards and, where applicable, LTO registration requirements before using it.
Who Can Apply?
Not every member qualifies automatically. To be eligible, you generally need to:
- Be an active member under permanent or non-career status (including tagged Special Members)
- Have at least three years of service, with at least one month of contributions paid within the last six months
- Have no pending administrative or criminal case
- Not be on leave without pay
- Have no GSIS loan in default, except a housing loan
- Belong to an agency not flagged as “suspended” in GSIS records
- Maintain a Net Take Home Pay that still meets GAA requirements after the loan deduction
Loan Terms
Members can borrow under the following terms:
- Loanable amount: Up to 100% of the unit’s cost, capped at ₱300,000. This is a one-time benefit and cannot be used to finance multiple units or combined purchases that add up to the maximum. The approved amount also cannot exceed the actual cost shown in the supporting document.
- Interest rate: 5% per annum, computed in advance.
- Loan term: Three years, paid in 36 equal monthly installments through salary deduction.
- Loan Redemption Insurance (LRI): A one-time premium is deducted from loan proceeds to cover the loan in the event of the borrower’s death during the loan term, provided the account is up to date.
- Free insurance: The program includes free Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) coverage worth ₱100,000 for one year, provided at no cost to the member.
How to Apply, and What You’ll Need
Applications are accepted only through the GSIS Touch mobile application. There’s no need to visit a GSIS branch for this. Depending on whether you’ve already bought the unit or are still planning to, you’ll need to submit one of two supporting documents:
- For a loan-financed purchase: A quotation, meaning a detailed document or proposal from a bike or e-bike supplier showing the cost of the unit and other relevant details.
- For reimbursement: An official receipt or sales invoice issued in the member-borrower’s name, supporting reimbursement for a bike or e-bike purchased in Calendar Year 2026 onward, within the program’s implementation period.
Once submitted, the application goes through certification by the member’s Agency Authorized Officer (AAO), who verifies details like active service status, absence of pending cases, and NTHP sufficiency. Applications not acted on by the AAO within seven calendar days are automatically cancelled, and the member is notified through email, SMS, and GSIS Touch.
If approved, the loan proceeds are credited directly to the member’s GSIS-registered account, generally within a few working days of loan granting.
Pre-Termination, Cancellation, and Default
It isn’t always possible to follow a fixed repayment schedule, so GBEL builds in some flexibility, along with some real consequences for non-compliance:
- Pre-termination: Members may settle the outstanding balance early, with no fees charged for doing so.
- Cancellation: Allowed within 30 calendar days from the date of loan granting, provided the principal plus pro-rata interest is paid in full.
- Compulsory pre-termination: Triggered automatically by death, resignation, permanent disability, retirement, or separation from service, at which point the outstanding balance becomes due and demandable, typically collected from benefits or claims due the member or their heirs.
- Default: An account is considered in default once unpaid obligations equal more than six monthly amortizations. Once in default, the balance becomes due and demandable, and additional penalty interest applies until the account is settled or updated to current status.
- Non-purchase after loan release: If a member doesn’t submit proof of purchase within one month of loan release, GSIS treats it as if no purchase occurred. The full loan becomes immediately due, and failure to settle it can block the member’s records from other GSIS loan programs until resolved.
Note: Long-term availability of the loan program beyond the initial three-year implementation window is not yet publicly confirmed and should be verified with GSIS.
For official inquiries about GBEL, applications, or account concerns, reach out directly to GSIS, either via their phones or via their official social media accounts.