SSS taps coops to boost Iloilo, Guimaras access

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Social Security System Iloilo Central Branch formally signed a memorandum of agreement with four multipurpose cooperatives on May 18 to expand access to SSS services and contribution payments in communities across Iloilo and Guimaras.

The signing ceremony, held at Diversion 21 Hotel in Mandurriao district, accredited Guimaras Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Guimaras Brethren Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Pototan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and KASAMA (Kabalikat sa Magandang Adhikain) Multi-Purpose Cooperative as official SSS collecting partner agents.

Under the agreement, the cooperatives will assist members in various SSS-related transactions, including the collection of social security contributions and loan amortization payments.

The accredited cooperatives will also help facilitate SSS member registration, creation of online My.SSS accounts, enrollment of disbursement accounts through the My.SSS portal, and online applications for benefits and loans.

The partnership supports SSS’ broader mandate to provide social security protection to private sector workers, self-employed individuals, and overseas Filipino workers, whose coverage is compulsory under the agency’s rules.

It also builds on SSS and Cooperative Development Authority efforts to authorize registered cooperatives as collecting agents for their members.

SSS officials present during the signing included Senior Vice President for Visayas Operations Group Alberto L. Montalbo, Acting Senior Vice President of the Accounts Management Group Renato Jacinto S. Cuisia, and Visayas West 2 Vice President Angelo O. Blancaver.

In his message, Cuisia said the partnership with cooperatives would help the agency extend social security services to underserved and remote communities.

“We realize that we cannot really reach out to remote areas, particularly the marginalized sectors. What better way to do this than to partner with cooperatives because we share the same goal of improving the lives of our members,” he said.

Cuisia added that through the partnership, SSS hopes to reach more workers and provide them with social security protection.

“Hopefully, you realize the sincerity and good faith that we bring in this partnership. Let us help one another. Congratulations to all of us for reaching this point of partnership,” he added.

The initiative is expected to benefit more than 10,000 current cooperative members and may further extend SSS coverage to about 7,000 more workers across Western Visayas.

Also present during the event were Raul F. Matan, department manager III of the Cooperatives and Informal Sector Department; Alexander L. Regala, senior specialist of the same department; and Elisa M. Llavan, branch head III of SSS Iloilo Central Branch.

Representatives from the participating cooperatives, including board chairpersons, managers, and officers from KASAMA MPC, Pototan MPC, Guimaras Employees MPC, and Guimaras Brethren MPC, also attended the ceremony.