'Three years ago, GSIS was the most hated, and most controversial government institution. Transactions used to take months before members could get actual result. We needed to do something to change the way people perceive the agency,' Garcia admitted himself during the launch of the first G-W@APS kiosk in Camiguin Island in the South last week.

For Garcia, using technology is the way to save the agency. He believes technology will modernize the GSIS and more importantly, help eliminate inefficiencies experienced by members in the past in transacting with the agency.

In an effort to make its services accessible to more than 1.4 million active members nationwide, GSIS has launched the "G-W@PS" kiosk, a device that replicates the most common transactions in the state pension fund's office.

The in-house developed G-W@PS kiosk is a 55-inch high box-type machine, with a 28x16-inch touch screen monitor that employs the interplay of Radio Frequency ID, biometrics, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) wireless technology and Virtual Private Network (VPN).

The kiosks are connected to the GSIS mainframe via Globe's or Smart's GPRS services. The determining factor for choosing a telecommunications provider is dependent on the strength of the signal per location.