SSS covers more workers in informal sector

MANILA, Philippines — The Social Security System (SSS) has covered a total of 167 informal sector groups (ISGs) and associations, representing about 17,895 members in South Luzon under the agency’s innovative micro-savings program AlkanSSSya as of last year.

The AlkanSSSya program enables informal sector workers to save part of their daily income from monthly contributions.

Virginia Cruz, SSS assistant vice-president for South Luzon, said the savings scheme has consistently complemented payments from self-employed and voluntary members in the region, which grew to P1.4 billion from P1.3 billion in 2013.

Informal workers, who are covered as self-employed members, paid more than P20 million in contributions last year.

Total collections of SSS offices in South Luzon rose 13.7 percent to  P12.4 billion.

Collections from the employed sector expanded 13.6 percent to P10.9 billion or 88 percent of total.

Last year, about 132,888 new members were added in South Luzon, consisting of 110,772 employees and househelpers, and 22,166 self-employed and voluntary members.

During the same period, three full-service branches were opened to provide more service points to members residing in Dasmarinas, Cavite; Lemery, Batangas; and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“More agreements with local government units and ISGs are in development with the necessary infrastructures now being put in place. We expect to generate improved collections from the AlkanSSSya program while we extend it across every economically vulnerable sector of the society,” Cruz said.