A total of 217 barangay workers from 21 villages in San Quintin town can now enjoy full Social Security System (SSS) benefits as the municipal government subsidizes their monthly contributions.
According to SSS Urdaneta branch head Christopher Servas, the initial beneficiaries include barangay health workers and barangay peacekeeping action team members. He added that members of civilian volunteer organizations may also be included soon.
“All benefits they can avail like those of the employed SSS members since they are covered as self-employed under the SSS Contribution Subsidy (Provider) Program (CSSP) as barangay workers but fully subsidized by the local government unit (LGU),” Servas said.
Through SSS membership, workers gain access to a wide range of benefits, including sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, unemployment, death, and funeral assistance. Members may also apply for various salary, housing, and business loans.
San Quintin is the first LGU in Pangasinan to adopt the program, subsidizing the PHP 760 monthly contribution of each enrollee.
Servas said they are promoting the SSS-CSSP to other LGUs, especially to help barangay workers with limited honoraria and indigent farmers in the fifth and sixth districts of Pangasinan.
“Hope this will be a stimulus for other LGUs not only in the fifth and sixth districts of Pangasinan but the entire province to dedicate public funds for this purpose because such will have a transcendental effect not only on the lives of the barangay workers but as well as their families or beneficiaries,” he said.
The SSS Urdaneta branch will continue coordinating with LGUs to expand the program’s coverage.
“This is for nation building and poverty alleviation,” Servas added.