GSIS Building

The GSIS Building is the headquarters of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the corporation that handles social security of the employees of the government of the Philippines. Located in Pasay, it is also the seat of the Senate.

GSIS Building
Facade
Location within Metro Manila
General information
Town or cityPasay
CountryPhilippines
Coordinates14°32′49.12″N 120°59′1.60″E
Design and construction
ArchitectJorge Ramos

Old GSIS Building

The original headquarters of the GSIS was in Arroceros Street, Manila. Built in 1957, it was designed by Federico Ilustre. Gerald Lico said that it "adhered to a stylistic tendency that stood at the intersection between Neoclassical and modern aesthetics" in his book "Arkitekturang Filipino". In 2017, it was reported it much of the structure will be demolished, save for the facade. The Manila Hall of Justice will be built in its place.[1] Two years earlier, it was proposed to be used as a homeless shelter.[2]

New building

The new headquarters in Pasay was designed by Jorge Ramos.[3] The Senate transferred to the GSIS Building in 1997, after sitting at the Old Congress Building in Manila. President Joseph Estrada, comparing the Old Congress Building and the GSIS building, said that the latter looks like a bank, while the former had character and ambiance.[4]

Usage by the GSIS

The GSIS houses a museum, the GSIS Museo ng Sining, in the building.[5] Its theater hosted the funeral of former Senate President Jovito Salonga in 2016.[6]

Usage by the Senate

The Senate, which meets in a separate place from the House of Representatives which is in the Batasang Pambansa Complex, rents usage of the building from the GSIS. In 2009, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago urged the Senate to build its own building, as they are paying 7.8 million pesos for the building and 500,000 pesos for the parking lot, every month. This totaled to almost 100 million pesos in a year.[7]

By 2017, Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is also the chairman of the Committee on Accounts, said that the Senate has paid 2.24 billion pesos to the GSIS since 1996. Arguing that the Senate could've paid for a new building with this amount, there had been moves to find a new building for the Senate. The Manila Film Center was suggested, but due to urban legends of it being haunted by the ghosts of the construction workers who died building it, the Senate decided to look for other options.[8] Lacson spearheaded a successful vote approving the transfer of the Senate to a new building in Taguig.[9]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila, the building was locked down when a visitor of the Senate tested positive to the coronavirus disease 2019.[10]

The Senate has its museum in the building.[11]

Other usage

The Philippine Olympic Committee announced that it will hold a special election for its officers in 2019 after meeting at the building.[12]

References
  1. Sembrano, Edgar Allan (2017-05-07). "Hall of Justice to replace old GSIS building in Manila". Inquirer Lifestyle. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  2. Ronda, Rainier Allan (2015-10-04). "Abandoned GSIS building eyed as shelter for homeless families". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  3. "Past meets future at Apartment Ridge". philstar.com. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  4. "House a homeowner while Senate remains homeless". The Manila Times. 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  5. "Philippines to host 'Freedom & Love' exhibit". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  6. Musico, Jelly (2016-03-16). "President Aquino, LP family pay tribute to former Senate President Jovito Salonga". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  7. Lim Uy, Sasha (2019-05-28). "The Senate is About to Get a Stylish New Home, After Decades of Planning". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  8. "Homeless no more?". Business Mirror. 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  9. Lardizabal, Cecille (2017-11-21). "Senators agree to move Office of the Senate to Taguig". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  10. "GSIS closes head office in Pasay after visitor tests positive for new coronavirus". ABS-CBN News. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  11. Canet, Carla N. (2018-07-27). "Visiting the Senate Museum". Sunstar. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  12. Murillo, Michael Angelo S. (2019-06-25). "Philippine Olympic Committee set for a special election | BusinessWorld". Business World. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
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