CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu branch of the Social Security System opened its new building along Osmeña Boulevard yesterday with SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri assuring more services from the agency in the coming years.
Neri said SSS eyes at forging a partnership with Netopia Internet Café for the latter to serve as satellite stations where SSS members can make inquiries and transact with SSS online. Neri said that with around 200 Netopia branches across the country, transacting with SSS online would save its members the hassle of going to the SSS office.
Neri said a partnership with Netopia would also allow SSS members to avail of future services like applying for salary loans and claims online.
Aside from online services, Neri said SSS also aims to put up around 100 information terminals through which SSS members can make inquiries by using the SSS card. He said several SSS branches have been upgraded into processing centers while smaller branches are intended to be put up in the northern and southern areas of the province to decongest the main office.
Meanwhile, Neri announced that SSS is on the process of finalizing its contracts with the Government Service Insurance System, Philhealth, and Pag-Ibig for the Unified Multi-purpose Identification Card that would enable members of the four agencies to transact with their offices using just one card.
He said the UMID card, which has already gone through public bidding, would enhance the integrity of the state-issued ID cards and would facilitate the public’s transactions with government offices, as well as cutting the costs of having numerous cards for each of the four agencies.
Neri said they are also eyeing at including the the Bureau of Immigration in the UMID.
Meanwhile, Mayor Tomas Osmeña challenged SSS to extend financial assistance to students, as well as to the unemployed.
“There is a very big sector that is not represented. They are the ranks of unemployed…the people who do not have jobs… and who is representing them? It pains me to see people who are software engineers who went in elementary, High School, College and passed the board, but will be tagged as almost qualified and end up working in department stores or in malls,” Osmeña said.
Osmeña said the city can act as the guarantor for the students and the unemployed that would avail of the program with SSS.
Neri said he likes Osmeña’s idea while SSS Vice President Judy See said the agency will look into the viability of the program, now that the city has given its word to act as guarantor to the beneficiaries.
On the other hand, Neri said they hope that members would be able to pay their loans pay so that when they retire, they would still be able to enjoy the whole amount of their pension fund.
“Risk wise is not a problem, but I told the officials to convince the members to start paying so that when they retire, they could still have their money. Masisira ang purpose if at the end wala na silang makukuha diba?” Neri said.
Also during yesterday’s inauguration of its new building, SSS gave plaques to 12 persons for their support for their agency.
The awardees include Corazon dela Paz-Bernardo, the first Filipino President of the International Social Security Association in 2004 and the first non-European and woman President in ISSA’s 80-year history; Marianita O. Mendoza, Ernesto F. Hererra, Cecilio Seno, Leopoldo Viroy, Juanito Jao, Atty. Democrito Mendoza, Atty. Francisco Boromeo, Ramon Gaviola Jr., Rene Espina, Marcelo H. Fernan and Enrico Aumentado.
SSS Cebu also gave 20,000 pesos to the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children.
The new building was inaugurated yesterday, but SSS Assistant Vice President - Cebu Helen Solito said employees will transfer to the new structure once the electrical connection is in place.
“Probably by December, ma- stabilize na ang connection then that’s the time we can transfer here,” Solito said.
The new SSS Building is the “Hub Branch” in Central Visayas and promises better facilities, more convenience and improved accessibility to its members. - AJ A. de la Torre and Johanna T. Natavio/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)