The Social Security System (SSS) observed its 65th birthday on September 30, 2022. No less than President Bongbong Marcos was the guest of honor to lead the commemoration of the anniversary of the implementation on September 1, 1957 of the Social Security Act of 1954 (Republic Act 1161). The law was enacted in 1954 during the term of President Ramon F. Magsaysay but became operational only three years later when President Carlos P. Garcia assumed office after the objections coming from certain business sectors and labor groups were resolved.
No doubt, SSS has proven its worth as a citadel of social justice and security for over six decades. If SSS were an employed person, it would have been mandatorily retired at 65 but it cannot abandon its role of providing a universal and equitable social protection to our working class in the private sector. Without SSS, who will pursue its mission to promote social justice and provide meaningful protection to ordinary wage earners and low-salaried employees when tragedy and loss of income occur?
A truly civilized society is measured by how much it cares for the old, the sick, the disabled and its vulnerable members such as pregnant women, widows and orphans. Every responsible government should promote and maintain a sound, viable and tax exempt social security system to protect its members and their families against the risks of death, old age, injuries, sickness, disability, maternity and other contingencies. Every family faces these hazards resulting in loss of income and financial burden. More often, they can cause severe financial stress and economic dislocation unless the family gets outside support.
For more than six decades, the SSS has been a bastion of security and protection to its millions of members. SSS has been a dependable safety net for our people during life’s most difficult moments. President BBM personally recognized this when he hailed the SSS in his speech. He cited the institution as a “force that makes a difference in nation-building.” He acknowledged that “social protection is more crucial now more than ever…with the country recovering from the pandemic, with the country trying to recover from the shocks that are coming from the geopolitical crises going around the world.” Thus, SSS has delivered its mandate and lived up to its promise. The theme of this year’s celebration is simple and fitting: “SSS@ 65:Kontribusyong Pinag-ipunan, Proteksyong Maaasahan.” SSS makes sure that our savings today will be our security tomorrow.
Over the years, SSS has expanded its role and coverage. It administers the Social Security Program and the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program. Starting in 1978, the EC thru SSS provides compensation to workers who had illness, death or accident during work-related activities. In 1980, self-employed workers became members of SSS, and in 1992, self-employed farmers and fishermen were covered by SSS. Its membership base was further widened when household workers who earned at least P1,000 a month were made compulsory members of the system. Workers in the informal sectors like street hawkers, ambulant vendors and watch-your-car boys were also included in 1995. Over the years, membership in the SSS was expanded and benefits were increased to make them more meaningful. Under the new SSS Law of 2018, RA 11199, mandatory membership was extended to overseas Filipino workers and maternity benefits were improved, among others. Furthermore, an unemployment benefit was added in case of a member’s involuntary separation from work. It’s worth mentioning as well that during President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term, an additional benefit in the amount of P1,000 was added to the monthly pension effective January 2017. Likewise, a pension loan was offered to qualified pensioners to save them from being victimized by the loan sharks.
As the former PCEO of SSS and Vice-Chairman of the Social Security Commission, I have personally known the incumbent SSS PCEO, Mike Regino, and many of the sitting Commissioners who served with me at the Social Security Commission (SSC) during my administration. Some have sacrificed their lucrative business or professional practices to answer the call of public service. They were drawn from the different sectors—labor, management, and government—but they have a common resolve, which is to serve the best interest of the average wage earners. I’ve worked with most of the officers and employees of SSS, and, more than three years after I left my post, I’m still honored and proud to have led them. One has been the object of numerous complaints but with more than 40 million members, the System regularly gets a considerable number of unsatisfied members. For many years, customers handling was a task given to Mr. Fernando Nicolas, VP for NCR North Division and Concurrent Head of the Public Affairs and Special Events Division. I was a witness on how Fernan went about his job and how coolly and patiently he attends to his customers under the most trying conditions. Yet, he reports to work daily with a bounce on his steps and leaves the office at the close of office hours with a smile on his face. President BBM is cognizant of this when he said: “I ask you to keep up the good work. I can see that the SSS still has within its DNA the continuing service that you are giving and the sensitivity that you show to the actual conditions of our people.” He heaped praise on the SSS officers and employees for their dedication and hard work to ensure the reliability and stability of SSS.
I am happy to note that the present progressive leadership of SSS under its Chairman, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and PCEO Regino has introduced new initiatives designed to improve the institution’s efficiency and effectiveness in serving its members. Starting this year, the state pension fund will be launching six innovative programs to help the workers from the informal sectors meet their contribution obligations and assist them and their employers settle their delinquencies. SSS now offers a new contribution payment schedule for farmers, fishermen, and self-employed individuals in the informal economy. Their contribution payment will be aligned with their income flow since they do not have regular earnings and fixed income. SSS has also introduced the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP), which allows any individual or group who is not the employer of the member to subsidize the monthly contributions of SSS members for at least six months. Beneficiaries of this benevolent scheme will be mostly self-employed members who earn meager or irregular income. Another worthy program is the Consolidation of Past Due Short-Term Member Loans with Condonation of Penalty. This is designed to help delinquent members pay their loan obligations with the SSS. SSS will again offer the Contribution Penalty Condonation Program that aims to help business and household employers to settle their contribution delinquencies relative to their employees and “kasambahays.” These employers can pay their delinquencies without penalty through one-time settlement or by installment. And in order to encourage more savings, the pension fund will open a new voluntary provident fund program called the Workers’ Investment and Savings Program + (WISP+). Through WISP+, SSS hopes for its members to practice its mantra—WORK, SAVE, INVEST and PROSPER. This is the only way to go for every Filipino household to become financially resilient and economically independent.
Enacting the SSS Law in 1954 was President Ramon F. Magsaysay’s greatest achievement and finally implementing it in 1957 was President Carlos P. Garcia’s crowning glory. Extending its coverage and benefits to every Filipino worker in the private sector—employed or self-employed, part-time or full-time, formal or informal—will make President BBM the champion of labor and social justice.