The 2020 World Risk Index concludes that the Philippines ranked 9th as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Situated along the typhoon belt, the Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year. Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country also regularly experience earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, among others.
Through the enactment of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act in 2010, the Philippine government is putting significant efforts in developing disaster management structures and resources. Managing disasters include disaster mitigation, preparedness, prevention, and response. Our vulnerability to various natural hazards has actually helped us to develop strategies and mitigation mechanisms at the national level.
In December 2021, while everyone was busy preparing for Christmas, we have been struck by a powerful and catastrophic typhoon, which hit provinces in MIMAROPA Region in Luzon, Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas, and CARAGA and Region X in Mindanao. Typhoon Odette has left thousands of families homeless, paralyzed major electricity lines, and interrupted communication networks, caused damages to infrastructure, and wasted millions of livelihoods. People were left hungry and jobless, a number of deaths were also recorded, all of which has brought about a negative impact on the economy. It was truly a sad fate for those who were just regaining back their financial resources amid the pandemic.
As a commitment of the Social Security System to provide much needed assistance to its members and pensioners even during times of calamities, the agency launched the SSS Calamity Assistance Program (CAP) on January 14, 2022, providing three programs under it: The Calamity Loan Assistance Program, Three-Month Advance Pension for SS and EC Pensioners, and Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan for those residing in the calamity-stricken areas and declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under a state of calamity, which include Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), Region VI (Western Visayas), Region VII (Central Visayas), Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), Region X (Northern Mindanao) and Region XIII (CARAGA). The CLAP and Three-Month Advance pension programs are open to receive applications until April 13, 2022, while the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan will run for a year until January 13, 2023.
1. Calamity Loan
Qualified members may apply for a one-month loan equivalent to the average of his/her latest 12 posted monthly salary credit or the amount applied for, whichever is lower, provided that they have fulfilled the following requirements:
- With 36 monthly contributions, six of which should be posted within the last 12 months prior to the month of filing of application;
- Have not been granted any final benefit claim such as Permanent Total Disability Claim or Retirement Claim;
- Have no outstanding loan balance in the Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) and in the previous CLAP; and
- With active UMID-ATM or enrolled PESONet accredited bank account or UBP Quick Card in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) since the loan proceeds will be credited to such account.
To apply, members should log in to their account with the My.SSS portal. Under the e-Services tab, the member-borrower should select the Apply for Calamity Loan tab.
2. Advance three-month pension
For SS retirement, disability, and survivor pensioners, as well as EC disability and survivor pensioners, the CAP offers the availment of three-month advance pension. To apply, a pensioner should submit the following documents:
n A properly accomplished Application for Assistance due to Calamity/Disaster Form and a certification issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), if the Application Form was not signed by the Barangay Chairman.
n 3. Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan
This program aims to provide financial assistance to SSS members whose houses were damaged or destroyed due to Typhoon Odette. Qualified SSS members may apply for the Direct House Repair and/or Improvement Loan. Under this program, they can borrow a maximum loanable amount of P1 million.
To qualify, affected members must meet the following requirements:
- Have a total of at least 24 monthly contributions, three of which should be posted within the last 12-month period prior to the month of filing of application;
- Not more than 60 years old at the time of filing of application;
- Have not been previously granted a House Repair and/or Improvement Loan by the SSS;
- Have not been granted any final SSS benefit nor was refunded SSS contributions; and
- The member and his/her spouse (if applicable) must be up-to-date in the payment of all other existing loans with the SSS.
Application may be filed in the Housing and Acquired Asset Management Sections located in SSS San Pablo for those in Southern Luzon, SSS Cebu for those in Central Visayas, SSS Bacolod for those in Western Visayas, SSS Davao for those in Southern Mindanao, SSS Cagayan De Oro for those in Northern Mindanao, and SSS Zamboanga for those in Western Mindanao.
Aside from CAP, the SSS has also extended the contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 in ‘Odette’-hit areas. Contributions of business and household employers for November and December 2021 can be paid until February 28, 2022. The same deadline applies to the contribution payment of coverage and collection partners, self-employed, voluntary, and non-working spouse members, and land-based overseas Filipino worker members for the applicable period of October to December 2021.
Aiming to address the gaps in disaster management capacities across the different regions in the country, the SSS has invested on disaster response capacity by offering programs to its members and pensioners who were greatly affected by natural calamities, most especially typhoons.
As in the past, SSS is a lending arm to help its members in whatever contingencies that may arise, including calamities.
Have a healthy and productive week!
For more information on the SSS Calamity Assistance Package, members may refer to the SSS Circular No. 2021-020 https://bit.ly/3LSACZk and to Circular 2022-004 https://bit.ly/3sQ9AZD for the extension of contribution payment deadline for Typhoon Odette-hit areas.
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.