SS-PIA join info drive on Kontribusyon, Sulit na Sulit

General Santos City -- Some 300 members of Social Security System (SSS) joined the 2018 Sulit Conference here, the 5th leg of SSS-Philippine Information Agency (PIA) information drive in the country.

Partnering with PIA, the SSS held the Sulit Conference dubbed, “Kontribusyon, Sulit na Sulit” at the Family Country Hotel here on July 31, among other information campaign activities for its existing and future members.

SVP for Administration Group May Catherine C. Ciriaco said the Sulit Conference aims ‘to inform SSS members how to get the most out of their hardearned contributions.”

Ciriaco is also the acting SVP of Human Resource Management Group and acting VP for Public Affairs and Special Events Division.

SSS Member Education Department Manager III Fernando Nicolas and General Santos City Branch Head Redentor Viola addressed and explained the key issues usually faced by members.

Responding to the query on having multiple SS numbers, Viola said: “The SS number assigned to a member is the lifetime number and must always be used in all transactions with the SSS. Under the current system, having more than one SS number is no longer possible.”

Nicolas also told participants that paying their debts incurred as a result of loan is a personal and moral obligation.

“Employees should remind their employer of their rights as SSS members,” Viola said

Both resource speakers emphasized the importance of SSS contribution as an investment and opportunity to save for contingencies in life such as sickness, disability, or old age.

SSS said that every private company, regardless of its size, should fully comply with the SSS obligations provided by the Social Security Act of 1997.

Employers who fail to report workers for SSS coverage and remit employees’ monthly contributions will be punished, Nicolas warned.

Participants to the conference were LGUs, self-employed, cooperatives, employees, employers, and overseas Filipino workers.

“The holding of this Sulit Conference 2018 will not only help strengthen the position of the 60-year-old SSS as a viable social security institution, but will also help raise awareness to our various stakeholders on the vast amount of benefits to which they are entitled,” said Ma. Luisa Sebastian, department manager III of the SSS Media Affairs Department.