SSS unveils relief package for victims of Agaton

MANILA, Philippines - The Social Security System unveiled a new calamity relief package that offers preferential terms for salary and house repair loans as well as  the advance release of three-month pensions for members and pensioners affected by Typhoon Agaton.

Catherine Ciriaco, SSS vice-president and OIC of Lending and Asset Management, said members located in areas declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Agaton may avail of the relief package on or before April 30, 2014.

Under the program, eligible borrowers for  special house repair loans have one year from issuance of the corresponding SSS circular to prepare the requirements and file their applications,” she said.

Partial disability pensioners may apply for advance pension for the remaining months of their benefit but not to exceed the three-month period.

“SSS decided to open the availment of our various programs offering relief given the considerable damage to lives and property caused by Agaton in southern Philippines,” Ciriaco said.

The relief package will  provide immediate access to funds needed for food, health care and other necessities while members with damaged homes can have them repaired at affordable loan terms, she added.

Declared calamity areas include Lanao del Norte and Agusan del Norte provinces and Iligan, Butuan, Bislig and Tagum cities.

Pensioners need to submit an accomplished application form duly certified by the Barangay Chairman or attach to the form a certification of their residence in a declared calamity area from the barangay chairman and Department of Social Welfare and Development or NDRRMC.

“If the pensioner’s given address, which should be within an area declared in a state of calamity by NDRRMC, is the same as that in our database, the application for advance pension shall be accepted even without any of the required certification,” Ciriaco explained.

Existing borrowers in the declared calamity areas will benefit from the Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP), which allows them to renew their salary loans ahead of the allowed schedule under the regular loan guidelines.

The SSS will also waive the one-percent service fee charged on salary loan applications, both for new and renewed loans, to further help the affected members.

Ciriaco added that affected members can also avail themselves of the waived processing fee and reduced six percent annual interest rate of the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loans of up to P1 million.