The AlkanSSSYA Program

The AlkanSSSya program of the Social Security System (SSS) demonstrates the growing consciousness to help people help themselves. It shows how we have slowly come to realize the importance of saving for our future through enrolling in a social security system that works.

The AlkanSSSya is a savings scheme designed by the Social Security System to help the self-employed and informal sector to become a member of the government insurance and pension program that is far more trustworthy and less discriminatory than available insurance and pension plans from the private sector.

With a minimum amount of ten pesos a day, dropped in an assigned coin bank in specific locations in a municipality, city, barangay or store, an individual or group of individuals can already be enrolled as a member of the Philippine SSS.

As a corporate social responsibility program,, the private sector can also partner with government in promoting this project and increasing the number of SSS members by donating a whole stand of 160 coin banks for the same number of people who will religiously drop their ten pesos a day to be opened in the presence of the member and deposited under the name of the said person for his insurance/pension plan.

Recently, through the SSS Lapulapu-Mandaue Branch headed by Atty. Albert Montalbo, the program was launched simultaneously in the city of Mandaue and the Municipality of Carmen.  The SSS Lapulapu-Mandaue branch covers the North of Cebu. 

Business groups  like the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce, San Miguel Brewery Inc. , SMC-Shipping and Lighterage, and Mitsumi Corporation donated one set of coin banks each for different beneficiary groups in Mandaue City, Carmen, and Danao City.

As explained by the Regional Director of SSS, Dir. Ellen Solito, the program allows the members under this program to enjoy the same benefits of a regular SSS contributor.  If they are able to complete 120 months of contributions, they are already entitled to a retirement benefit.  When they have reached 36 months of contributions, they can avail of the disability and salary loan benefits.  A member who has contributed for at least three months can enjoy a sickness and maternity benefit.  And if the member, who has paid only for a month, dies, that person is still entitled to a burial benefit.

Giving more access to ordinary citizens to a retirement program of government has settled well in my heart as I see the small steps government is taking to making its programs more real and achievable for people.  It is also noteworthy to see that the private sector has not hesitated in supporting this program with a sum of P22,200 per bank stand, 160 individuals are already given a chance to look up to a bright future.

If you are a corporate citizen wanting to help others, you may want to participate in this program.  You may even specify the group you want to support (e.g. Vendors Associations, Cooperatives, etc.) in a particular location and the SSS AkanSSSya team would be ready to accept your partnership.

For details on this program, you may reach the nearest SSS office near you.