IN December 2021, we saw the steady decline in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country and we started to become hopeful that the coming year 2022 would bring us all a semblance of normalcy. Vaccinated and boostered, some of us may have already made decisions to push through with our travels plans, which were put on hold due to the pandemic and the lockdowns.
It came as a shock when the recent news of the surge in Covid-19 cases greeted the country on the first week of January. The numbers we saw were higher than what the Delta variant has brought upon us, and this new Omicron variant is causing most of us to panic as almost all of our friends and families are getting sick at a very alarming rate.
As what SSS had done in the past couple of years, it continues to bring its members, pensioners, and stakeholders its services despite the limitations afforded by the different alert levels imposed in the country.
To protect its members and employees alike, SSS is currently implementing its health and safety protocols.
First, we are encouraging our members and employers to observe the Branch Number Coding System with the following prescribed schedule based on the last digit of their SS numbers:
- Mondays for SS or ER ID number ending in 1 and 2,
- Tuesdays for those ending in 3 and 4,
- Wednesdays for those ending in 5 and 6,
- Thursdays for those ending in 7 and 8, and
- Fridays for those ending in 9 and 0.
Second, we are making sure that the transacting members and visitors always wear their face masks. SSS employees manning the frontline counters also regularly wear medical face masks for the mutual protection of co-employees and the transacting public. For those who feel safer by wearing face shields, they may also do so for added protection.
Third, temperature check is required before entry to SSS offices. Those with temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius and above will be advised to return home and transact through drop box/online/mobile service channels.
Fourth, our visitors are being asked to accomplish complete the Contact Tracing Form Slip. All transacting members/visitors are required to accomplish a Heath Declaration Slip upon entry for the purpose of contact tracing as required by the Department of Health.
Fifth, everyone is always being reminded to maintain and observe social distancing. Transacting members and employers are advised to maintain a distance of 1 meter apart within SSS premises. Our security officers are always around to remind and check if everybody is following this protocol.
Sixth, we also practice frequent sanitation. In these current times, we should always bring an alcohol-based sanitizer whenever we leave the house and use it especially after touching door handles, tables, and other surfaces. The SSS toilet facilities also provide hand soaps and alcohol for the use of the transacting members.
Moreover, we enjoin our members, pensioners, and other stakeholders to maximize the usage of our online services for faster, simpler, and easier way to transact business as well as to lessen face-to-face interactions. Members may access their SSS information including contributions, loans, status of benefit claims, register accounts for Disbursement Account Enrollment Module, and generate Payment Reference Number (PRN) for contributions and loans.
They can also submit Maternity Notifications (for individual members) and submit benefit applications such as Maternity, Sickness, Funeral, Retirement, and loan privileges such as Salary Loan, Calamity Loan, and renewal of Pension Loan, among others.
Employers may also submit their Contribution Collection List (R3), Employment Reports, Loan Collection Lists, Sickness Benefit Reimbursement and Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Application, and certify their employees’ Retirement Benefit and Salary Loan Applications.
The SSS online channels are as follows: My.SSS Portal at www.sss.gov.ph, SSS Mobile App, and uSSSap Tayo portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph. Currently, there are over 30 member services and nearly 20 employer services available in the My.SSS Portal, with some services accessible through the SSS Mobile App.
We are still in a continuous battle as the pandemic’s end is not yet in sight. But what’s important is we stay focused on our goals, have a positive outlook in life, and keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy. Whatever alert level may be imposed by the national government, members are assured that conducting their transactions online is the fastest, simplest, and easiest way to do business with the SSS, 24/7 at the comfort of their homes or offices.
I wish you all a healthy and productive week! Keep safe, everyone.
Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer.
We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss.gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.