By
Gideon C. Corgue
TAMBULIG, Zamboanga del Sur – The local government unit of Tambulig on Monday signified its
intention to support the E-AlkanSSSya program of the Social Security System
(SSS) to provide social security protection of
job order (JO) and contractual employees.
Tambulig is a fourth class
municipality of the first district of the province, located about 54 kilometers from Pagadian
City.
In its launching ceremony held at
the mayor’s office, the SSS represented by Atty. Rodrigo Feloteo, executive
vice-president for Mindanao and LGU, represented by Mayor Caridad Balaod inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to intensify
coverage and enhance social security protection for the contractual and job
order workers in the municipality.
The
MOA made and entered into SSS and the LGU of Tambulig is in pursuant to the
provisions of Republic Act No. 1161 as amended, otherwise known as “Social
Security Law”.
The
MOA signing was witnessed by James Buckly, SSS branch head of Pagadian City and
Vice Mayor Protacio Aleman.
Balaod
lauded the SSS for launching the program saying that it is a great help for the
JOs and contractual employees in their municipality for them to avail of social
security benefits considering that they are not members of the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS).
As
a gesture of support, Balaod automatically enrolled more than 40 JOs and
contractual employees in the program.
“With
the enrollment of JOs and contractual employees, I am very confident that the
employees can be provided meaningful protection against the hazard of
disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death and other contingencies,” Balaod
announced.
Meanwhile, Atty. Rodrigo
Feloteo, executive vice president for Mindanao said that SSS is aware of the
health needs of the community especially
those who are not covered with GSIS but working in a government institution
like the LGU.
“We covered the JOs and
contractual employees because we are
aware that there is a felt need to protect them from any contingency that may occur in the
future,” Feloteo announced.
In the program, Feloteo
said the JOs and contractual workers will be automatically deducted P330 from
their salary for the payment of their monthly contribution to the SSS. “Instead
of saving P12 a day in the metal slot, the amount will be automatically
deducted from their salary to ensure the continuity of their payment, thus
assuring them social security protection in times of contingency,” Feloteo
opined.
“This is for your
future. In case of eventuality, you have
something to rely on, something that your children could be proud of having you
as a father or mother. That you did not forget them while you are still
around,” Feloteo added.
“While
you enjoy the fruits of your savings, you will also enjoy becoming a pensioner sooner,” Feloteo
concluded.
