MANILA, Philippines — State-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) targets to expand its coverage to local government officials in over 40,000 barangays nationwide.
SSS president and CEO Rolando Macasaet is pushing for the SSS membership of barangay captains and kagawads serving in around 42,000 barangays nationwide.
The program will allow them to receive a monthly pension when they retire from public service.
A bill which is pending in Congress, seeks to regularize barangay officials as government workers with corresponding fixed salaries and benefits.
Once passed, barangay officials will be entitled to fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, housing and health coverage.
“Many of our barangay officials and workers serve their constituents for 10 or 20 years. However, when they retire from public service, they do not get any separation pay or monthly pension,” Macasaet said.
Macasaet called on barangay officials to secure an SSS number and start paying their monthly contributions so they would automatically get coverage from the pension fund.