SSS extends AlkanSSSya program to government contractual workers

DAVAO CITY, Mar. 20 (PIA) – The Social Security System has extended its Electronic AlkanSSSya Program to contractual and job order workers in national government agencies in Davao Region.

As part of escalating its social security protection coverage for more employees in the NGAs, SSS Southern Mindanao has launched on Thursday its E-AlkanSSSya Program at the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-XI).

With this formal launching, SSS was able to cover BFAR-XI’s 180 contractual and job order employees who are excluded from the mandatory coverage of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Eddie A. Jara, SSS senior vice president for Visayas and Mindanao, said the e-AlkanSSSya scheme employs automatic deduction of the personnel’s contribution from their salaries.

BFAR-XI will facilitate the collection through payroll deduction and remittance of the monthly contributions to SSS, Jara explained.

To ensure sustainability of the coverage, SSS has inked a Memorandum of Agreement with BFAR-XI which agreed full support to the program and assurance to collect and remit the monthly contributions and loan amortizations of its workers.

 Jara said the minimum monthly contribution under the program is P330 or based on the actual monthly income compensation that the employees receive from BFAR-XI but not exceeding the maximum salary credit under the contribution schedule of the SSS.

“Malaking tulong eto sa kanila (contractual employees). They are assured of the security protection and other benefits. Because they are also travelling (as part of the work at BFAR),” BFAR-XI regional director Fatma Idris stated.

BFAR-XI was the first NGA in the region that responded to the campaign of SSS for its microsavings program covering the informal sector groups (ISGs).

Jara said they are currently coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-XI) which he said employs a large number of contractual and job order personnel.

SSS has already partnered with several local government units in the region for the implementation of the E-AlkanSSSya program.

“There are certain LGUs that are generous enough to shoulder full or partial contributions of their employees,” Jara said.

He said more LGUs have signified their intention of supporting the program such as the municipalities of San Isidro and Carmen of Davao del Norte which are scheduled to be oriented of the program next week.

Other workers who could benefit from the e-AlkanSSSya scheme are the barangay employees and tanod, street sweepers and daycare workers.

Fatma, meanwhile, disclosed that her office is also planning to advocate the microsavings program to the fisherfolks who are among the target groups from the informal sector which is offered the AlkanSSSya program where members are required to save at least P11 per day to complete the minimum P330 monthly contribution. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)