Subic opens leisure facilities to all ages, subject to strict protocols
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - Subic has opened its leisure facilities to all ages but subject to strict pr ot ocol s.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authrority (SBMA) Senior Deputy Administration Ramon Agregado, said residents of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the neighboring provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan, who have long waited for the chance to visit beaches, theme parks and other tourist attractions in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone can visit Subic.
The SBMA has released guidelines for leisure activities to visitors from the so-called NCRPlus
Bubble, which recently eased down to general community quarantine (GCQ) under Resolution No. 118-A of Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Agregado said that the IATF resolution allowed point-to-point travel from NCR-Plus to areas under modified GCQ without age restrictions, thereby opening Subic’s gates to visitors and tourists of all ages— from infants to seniors.
“It’s a significant step forward from when visitors from NCR-Plus can enter Subic only for business purposes, and when we required proof of business appointments,”
Agregado said. “But we will continue to strictly implement existing health safety protocols despite some relaxation in border controls.”
“We will conduct 100 percent inspection of travel requirements at Subic gates, and we will continue to strictly enforce rules on minimum health measures and physical distancing in all areas in the Freeport,” he said.
Agregado said that the new IATF ruling also requires those under 18 years and over 65 years of age to present a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test result upon entry in Subic.
To apply, retiree-pensioners must log in to their respective My.SSS account, proceed to the E-services tab, click “Apply for Pension Loan,” choose their preferred loan amount and term, agree to the terms and conditions of the program, submit their application, and print or download the PDF copy of the Disclosure Statement.
They will receive an e-mail confirmation of their applications. Pension loan proceeds will be credited to their disbursement accounts within five working days.
“Those who may use the online application method for the PLP are mainly retireepensioners who have previously availed of the program that are already fully paid and whose disbursement accounts are UMID-ATMs or UBP Quick Cards,” Ignacio said.
“However, we are continuously developing the PLP to include Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) participating banks as disbursement channels so that more qualified retiree-pensioners can conveniently avail of it,” she added.
Members, pensioners, employers, and the public are strongly advised to follow the minimum public health standards set by the government when transacting in SSS branches and offices.
The SSS launched the PLP in September 2018 to assist retiree-pensioners with their short-term financial needs through a low-interest loan at 10 percent per annum and help them avoid falling prey to loan sharks. A one-percent service fee is waived as a means to subsidize the payment for the premium of the Credit Life Insurance (CLI) of the borrower.
A qualified retiree-pensioner may avail of a loan of up to three, six, nine, or 12 times his/her basic monthly pension (BMP) plus a P1,000-additional benefit granted in 2017, but not to exceed the maximum loan limit of P200,000. Moreover, the net take-home pension of the pensioner-borrower should at least be 47.25%.
A pension loan of three and six times the pensioner’s BMP plus the P1,000-additional benefit has a payment term of six and 12 months, respectively. On the other hand, a pension loan of nine or 12 times the BMP plus the P1,000 additional benefit has a payment term of 24 months.
The first monthly amortization for the PLP will be due on the second month after the loan was granted.
For more information, follow the SSS on Facebook and YouTube at “Philippine Social Security System,” Instagram at “mysssph,” and Twitter at “PHLSSS,” or join its Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.”