AS the end of year 2021 fast approaches, I can’t help but look back at my own journey as the President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) of the Social Security System (SSS). I am proud of the SSS officials and employees who are working tirelessly to make SSS a notable institution as it is. Perhaps this is one of the fulfilling chapters in my corporate journey as it proved to be inspiring and challenging at the same time.
Looking back at these past years, I feel confident that SSS did well in terms of taking advantage of the opportunities for collaborations and innovations, which aim to provide universal and equitable social protection through world-class service to our over 40 million members, 3.14 million pensioners, and our other stakeholders.
While we have technological infrastructures set in place for a simpler, faster, and easier processing and transacting, we also made sure that we have an efficient strategy management in initiating, planning, and implementing our programs and services.
In my previous column, I have mentioned the awards that we received for our digital innovations. We received the GCash Digital Excellence Award for Excellence in Digital Public Aid Distribution for SSS’s comprehensive account registration in My.SSS and disbursement via PESONet partnership with GCash, and the 2021 Asean Social Security Association (ASSA) Innovation Recognition Award for the noteworthy SSS Mobile App innovation, designed to serve SSS members’ needs in a platform adapted to the changing technology and members’ profile.
In Pag-IBIG Fund’s Virtual Stakeholders’ Accomplishment Report (StAR) for the 1st half of the year 2021, SSS was also awarded as one of the top employers in recognition of its outstanding support that have contributed significantly in enabling Pag-IBIG to continue serving the members with excellence, and in their efforts to help the nation recover from the effects of the pandemic.
Another milestone recognition that SSS received was the Silver Trailblazer Award by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia, following our successful reválida on our adoption of the Performance Governance System (PGS). PGS is a performance management and measurement tool that aims to translate organizational goals into breakthrough results guided by a set of performance indicators and metrics.
We started our PGS journey in 2020 and have worked hard in achieving our strategic goal of ensuring progressively higher levels of social security protection for Filipino workers and families. Our plans and programs, and roadmaps have been aligned and directed toward achieving that strategic goal, which successfully brought very satisfactory rating of the elements required in the Initiation stage of the governance pathways in November.
We are gearing up for Compliance, the 2nd stage of the PGS, in 2022 as we are expected to deliver measurable results, launch new services for our members’ benefit, welfare and satisfaction, and enhance internal systems, policies, and procedures following our set roadmaps.
I am truly grateful and honored to receive these recognitions on behalf of the SSS. These notable accomplishments during my administration will continue to inspire me and the whole institution to work even harder for the benefit and welfare of our stakeholders. Recognitions like these affirm that the SSS is on the right track in carrying out our duties and responsibilities not just in providing social security protection for our members but also for implementing systems and procedures to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of services that the SSS offers to its members and pensioners.
As an ending note, I share these recognitions and achievements to all the men and women of the SSS.
Mabuhay kayong lahat!
Have a fulfilling week everyone!
Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer.
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