TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) –It is now in the hands of nearly 4,000 job order and casual employees in Bohol to opt for their final inclusion as members of the Social Security System (SSS), this as local government officials here sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) making their respective LGUS be collection agents of the government.
No less than SSS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rolando Ledesma Macasaet signed the MOA for the SSS, while Bohol Capitol Chief of Staff Atty. Pilipina Asoy-Piollo, Panglao mayor Edgardo Arcay and lawyer Jordan Pizarras signed each of their agreements with the SSS to facilitate the deduction of member contributions and finally put them in a savings facility that also allows them the benefits of social justice in sickness, maternity, old age, death and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden of the member.
Made as a side event during the SSS Stakeholders Forum held at the Be Grad Hotel December 6, the MOA signing also marks the peak of achievements of SSS Bohol’s Field Office led by Engr. Alieta Basubas and the Vice President for the Visayas, Atty. Albert Montalbo, in their campaign to widen the base of the social security membership here.
The campaign was long and arduous, according to Basubas, who has been as determined to help the workers have been in the forefronts of the public service in the towns and the province, but could not be enrolled in the Government Service Insurance System due to the nature of their employment.
Employed without employer-employee relations, casual and job order workers working on contract of service agreements can only cape in envy at regular employees who have benefits incorporated in their GSIS memberships.
Atty. Asoy, in her message after signing the MOA for Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, said the MOA opens a potential additional 3,000 to 4,000 capitol workers, who would have a facilitated system to pay their counterpart contributions through salary deductions.
This is the first time this happens for the Provincial Local Government Unit, she added.
Meanwhile, Panglao mayor Edgardo Arcay said the significant milestone adds more welfare to the town employees under the JOs and Contract of Service who have long wished to be given this social protection.
He recalled that as a president of the Harbor Pilots Association of the Philippines, he was also instrumental in the membership of all his members before he ventured into politics.
With his signing the MOA, potential 300-400 Panglao workers could get into the social security system, on the same agreement.
And in yet another significant development, a Makati based law firm owned by a Boholano is signing the MOA for a pledge to put in the contributions for 20 workers to be enrolled as members for the first six months.
Atty. Jordan PIzarras said his office is subsidizing the contribution of members for six months.
As this happened, the ball now is in the hands of workers if they would also put in their contribution share and enjoy the benefits enjoyed by SSS members.
Some workers who have been used to getting the full bulk of their contracts, somehow refuse to be members, thinking that it is a waste of money to be SSS members.
In LGUS where several COS workers man the frontline services, the moment they get sick, could only wait for help from their patrons, without really thinking any contingency could happen anytime.
The proliferation of loan sharks in government offices prove that workers who do not have ample social protection resort to the usurious rates of money lenders, if only to tide up their needs.
With the signing of the MOA, local officials hope that irregular workers can get the wisdom of getting social protection for their worker’s future. (PIABohol)
