Three Philippine Army soldiers killed in clash
with suspected NPAs in Surigao del Sur
By PO3 Darlin Cabalinan-Migullas
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- Three Philippine
Army solders were killed during a brief encounter with suspected members of the
rebel New Peoples Army (NPA) at the vicinity of Sitio Kabuluhan, Brgy Buhisan,
San Agustin, Surigao del Sur. The incident happened 9:45 a.m. of June 4. One
solder was also wounded.
The soldiers beloned to the 29IB Charlie Company
stationed in Surigao del Sur province.
It was uncertain whether the enemy troops
suffered casualties.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 command already
directed Surigao del Sur Provincial Public Safety Company and other police
stations to conduct checkpoints in strategic areas with the coordination of the
AFP counterpart. PCSUPT Getulio P NapeΓ±as also alerted all PNP units and
directed to monitor and check hospitals and clinics for patient admitted with
gunshot wounds. (PRO-13/PIA-Caraga)
SSS links with top Caraga cooperative for
protection of members
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) – Over 6,800 farmers
are expected to benefit from the Social Security System’s (SSS) partnership
with a multi-awarded local cooperative, which will pave the way for the social
protection of thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Caraga region.
In a press conference held Thursday here, SSS
President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said the Baug CARP
Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC), which operates eight branches
in Agusan del Norte, Surigao City and Bayugan City, will earn the distinction
as the first SSS servicing partner agent (SPA) based in Mindanao. The four
organizations earlier accredited as SPAs are all based in Luzon.
“Our tie-up with BCBMPC is a major step towards
our vision of universal social security coverage. We want to reach out to
informal sector workers, no matter where they are, because they often have
little access to social security,” de Quiros said.
De Quiros added that farmers, in particular, are
vulnerable because their tasks are physically demanding and their income is
largely dependent on the whims of nature.
As an accredited SPA, BCBMPC can receive its
members’ applications for SSS registration, salary loans and funeral claims.
SSS will also intensively train BCBMPC’s designated representatives on SSS
programs and procedures to ensure correct delivery of their non-collection
services. De Quiros and BCBMPC Chairperson Magdalina Tiu will sign the memorandum
of agreement during ceremonies at the BCBMPC office at the municipality of
Magallanes in Agusan del Norte on Friday, June 7.
“Our target is to cover 90 percent of BCBMPC’s
more than 7,500 members, most of whom are farmers. We want them to become
active SSS members, whether they are first-time registrants or
previously-covered members who have stopped contributing,” de Quiros said.
Since it began operations in 1995, BCBMPC has
received over 20 awards for its exemplary services such as loans granting; handling
of deposits and special savings; operating a consumers store to help members
sell their products; and managing the Pinoy Coop ATM network, Caraga’s first
ATM cooperative and the country’s first ATM service for agrarian reform
beneficiaries.
In 2012, BCBMPC garnered six distinctions,
including four Gawad Pitak awards from the Land Bank of the Philippines, one
Sipag award from the National Livelihood Development Corporation and one Gawad
Parangal award from the Cooperative Development Development Authority(CDA).
“SSS, like BCBMPC, aims to empower farmers
through safe and secure programs that help them prepare a bright future for
themselves and their families. We are happy that our first partner in Mindanao
is a stable and trusted organization with an excellent track record in taking
care of its members,” de Quiros noted.
In a show of support for SSS programs that help
poverty alleviation, BCBMPC shouldered the cost of production and delivery of
the AlkanSSSya unit for the use of nearly 100 members of the Magallanes
Cabadbaran Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (MCTODA).
“Some MCTODA members are also farmer-members of
the BCBMPC. Apart from being partners, they also work as tricycle drivers
in-between cropping seasons while waiting for their harvest to grow,” de Quiros
said.
The SSS chief also said the MCTODA AlkanSSSya
launch will come right after the SSS-BCBMPC signing and will be held at the
same venue. (RER/SSS Media Affairs Division/PIA-Caraga)
SSS bares new terms for retirees to qualify for
pensions
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) – The Social Security
System (SSS) announced its new guidelines on contribution payments of voluntary
members aged 65 and above who lack the required 120 monthly SSS contributions
mandated by law to qualify for retirement pensions.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio
de Quiros, Jr. made the announcement and called on members who are 65 years old
or over prior to April 1, 2013, but have not reached the required member
contributions of 120 months to qualify for retirement pension, to continue
paying the remaining months but they must first file an application on or
before July 1, 2013.
"Members affected by the new policy must
file an ‘Application for Voluntary Payment of Contributions for Members Aged 65
and Over’ within the prescribed period so they can complete their 120
contributions and be eligible for retirement pension… Otherwise, they can only
receive a lump sum benefit instead of the lifetime SSS pension," de Quiros
said.
Under the Social Security Law, members aged 60
and above must have at least 120 months contributions to qualify for retirement
pension. Those with less than 120 will be entitled to a lump sum retirement
benefit equal to the total amount of paid SSS contributions plus interest.
"With these new rules, members facing
technical retirement can continue to pay contributions to be eligibile for
pension benefits. At the same time, this allows SSS to keep the fund viable by
ensuring that retirement pensions are funded by the requisite contributions,"
de Quiros said.
The new guidelines also state that members who
will turn 65 years old on or after April 1, 2013, shall be allowed to continue
paying contributions to qualify for retirement pension, provided that the
member must have been covered by SSS at age 55 or earlier, and must have at
least 80 monthly contributions by age 65.
De Quiros said those who have not been covered
before age 55 cannot complete the 120 contributions. Also, they must file the
same application form within the month following their 65th birthday if they
intend to complete the required 120 contributions before filing their
retirement claim.
"As an example, the deadline of application
for a member who turns 65 on May 1, 2013 will fall on June 30, 2013. We want to
emphasize that failure to file the application form on or before the deadline
will bar the member from completing the 120 contributions," de Quiros
said. "In effect, their retirement benefit will be in lump sum instead of
a monthly SSS pension."
Upon approval of their application, members must
pay the contributions continuously every month or quarter based on their last
monthly salary credit (MSC) bracket until they reach the required 120
contributions. A decrease in MSC bracket will mean stoppage of the contribution
payments, while those who pay above the approved MSC will get a refund for
their excess payments.
"No contributions shall be applied
retroactively nor shall payments be accepted beyond completion of the 120
months. As for members who are currently getting SSS pensions for partial
permanent disability, they can start paying contributions in the month after
their disability pension has ended," de Quiros said.
Application forms for voluntary payment of SSS
contributions may be downloaded from the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph). For
inquiries, members can contact the SSS Call Center at 920-6446 to 55, which is
open from 7:00 am on Mondays all the way to 7:00 am on Saturdays. (RER/SSS
Media Affairs Division/PIA-Caraga)
SSS collections in Visayas-Mindanao hit P4.76B
in 1Q
BUTUAN CITY, JUNE 6 (PIA) -- The Social Security
System (SSS) collected a total of P4.76 billion in contributions from members
in Visayas and Mindanao from January to March 2013, up by nine percent from its
P4.35-billion collection during the same period in 2012. This was disclosed by
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. during a
"Kapihan sa SSS" with members of the local press.
De Quiros said collections in the Northern
Mindanao region also grew by five percent for a total of P704.25 million. He
was in the region for the formal launch of SSS partnerships with two informal
sector groups as well as meet with employers and members in the area,
"Our accomplishments in Visayas and
Mindanao, as well as in Northern Mindanao, are in step with overall SSS
performance during the first quarter, which is characterized by higher
contribution collections complemented by improved management of benefits,"
he said.
Vis-Min benefit payments for January to March
2013 amounted to P5.4 billion, of which P4.83 billion were for retirement,
death and disability benefits; P205.11 million in maternity benefits; P258.83
million in funeral grants; and P101.87 million for sickness, medical services
and rehabilitation.
"Total benefit payments in Vis-Min decreased
by four percent compared with the P5.6 billion total for the first quarter of
2012. For Northern Mindanao, benefit disbursements slightly rose by one percent
this year to P833.2 million," de Quiros said.
The SSS enhanced its Annual Confirmation of Pensioners
(ACOP) program in 2012 to ensure that only rightful beneficiaries receive SSS
pensions. Early this year, the agency further improved the ACOP by basing the
compliance date on the member’s birth month to help pensioners remember their
annual schedule for confirming their continued eligibility for pension.
The "AlkanSSSya" microsavings program
and accreditation of organized groups as collecting and servicing partner
agents helped bolster the pension fund’s efforts to widen SSS coverage and
encourage more workers to save for retirement through active SSS membership.
"We have stepped up our campaign to reach
out to workers in Northern Mindanao, with the AlkanSSSya launch for the
Magallanes Cabadbaran Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association on June 7. We
will also sign an agreement on the same day with the Baug CARP Beneficiaries
Multi-Purpose Cooperative for the SSS coverage of over 6,800 farmers," he
said.
The SSS North Mindanao division office is
located in Cagayan de Oro City. The SSS also has offices in Butuan, Cabadbaran,
Camiguin, Gingoog, Iligan, Oroquieta, Ozamis, San Francisco, Surigao, Tandag,
Trento and Valencia to serve over 49,700 employers and nearly 1.5 million
registered members in the region. (RER/SSS Media Affairs Division/PIA-Caraga)
Roxas issues orders local governments to support
Oplan Balik Skwela 2013
By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- Secretary of the
Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas issued Memorandum Circular No. 2013–46
dated May 30, 2013 to mandate Local Chief Executives, including Punong
Barangays to support the Oplan Balik Skwela (OBE) 2013 implemented by the
Department of Education (DepEd). The Memorandum is to ensure that proactive
efforts are being done within the area of jurisdiction of LGUs in providing
assistance to schools during the opening of classes.
In Region 13 – CARAGA, DILG Director Lilibeth A.
Famacion in line with SILG Roxas’ Memorandum extends full support to Oplan
Balik Skwela 2013 by engaging local government units (LGUs) to provide
appropriate and necessary support to schools through a Regional Memorandum
dated May 30, 2013. Inclusive in the Memorandum was the dissemination of OBE
Center Hotlines of the region to all local officials so that any concerns
regarding the opening of classes will be immediately addressed and taken care
of.
Likewise, all Provincial Governors and City/Municipal
Mayors, as Chairpersons of the Local School Board (LSB), Local Price Monitoring
Council (LPMC) and the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) were
enjoined to implement measures in preparation for the opening of classes. The
LCEs through their LSB are also urged to fast-track the procurement of school
supplies in accordance with existing laws, rules and policies.
Patrol operations in the vicinity of schools are
initiated and barangay tanods are activated to monitor school children crossing
the streets in order to prevent accidents. At the same time, the Philippine
National Police (PNP) are also deployed in certain areas to maintain peace and
order and make sure that school children are safe.
This initiative undertaken by the DILG is part
of the Department’s advocacy in promoting peace and order and ensuring that
local government units are always supportive to the needs of the community.
(NCLM/DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
New POPCOM chief installed
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- The POPCOM-Caraga
has a new head, as Regional Director Camilo S. Pangan retired from service.
The agency will be headed by officer-in-charge
Alexander A. Makinano.
Among Pangan's major accomplishments is the
formation of the Adolescent Health and Youth Development Program (AHYDP), which
he considered as one of his legacies is the establishment of youth center in
the different areas of Caraga Region.
The youth center, now operational in Surigao
City, Province of Dinagat Islands, Bislig City and Surigao del Sur, is a
one-stop-shop center which caters the various concerns of young people along
sexuality-related issues and concerns.
Aside from the establishment of youth centers,
former Director Pangan also introduced innovative ideas in the implementation
of the Responsible Parenthood-Family Planning (RP-FP) program which was also
replicated by the other regional population offices.
On the other hand, Mr. Makinano has been
managing the over-all technical operations of POPCOM-Caraga for the last 16
years. His assumption took effect upon the released of an office order signed
by Acting Executive Director Rosalinda Marcelino on March 10, 2013.
“My designation as Officer-In-Charge of POPCOM
is a very challenging job to ensure that the main thrust of the Philippine
Population Management Program (PPMP) would be effectively and efficiently
implemented as aligned with the overall thrusts of the P-Noy administration.”,
Mr. Makinano quoted.
Furthermore, Mr. Makinano revealed that he is
looking of the integration of population dimension into the overall poverty
alleviation efforts in his term. POPCOM-Caraga shall be enhancing RP-FP program
integration into the Pantawid Pamilya program and Parent Education in private
companies. (NCLM/POPCOM-13/PIA-Caraga)
SSS protection for TODA members gets support of
local cooperative
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) – The Social Security
System (SSS) will launch June 7 its innovative microsavings scheme called
"AlkanSSSya" for the social protection of nearly a hundred public
transport workers in Agusan del Norte, a program which has also drawn the
support of a local cooperative.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio
de Quiros, Jr. said members of the Magallanes Cabadbaran Tricycle Operators and
Drivers Association (MCTODA) will drop in their first-ever savings in their very
own AlkanSSSya unit, the fabrication of which was subsidized by the Baug CARP
Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC).
De Quiros also said public transport workers
such as tricycle drivers are especially vulnerable to road hazards and
pollution, which can affect their capacity to earn for their family. With the
AlkanSSSya, MCTODA members will have SSS to depend on during times of financial
contingencies.
"In support of SSS efforts to promote
social protection, the BCBMPC voluntarily subsidized the cost of the AlkanSSSya
unit for MCTODA members," de Quiros added.
All of MCTODA’s 98 members will have their own
coin slot in the AlkanSSSya unit, which houses a total of 160 slots. BCBMPC is
open to granting the remaining 62 slots to its own members as well as to other
informal sector workers who wish to store their daily SSS savings in the
AlkanSSSya.
AlkanSSSya participants at present include TODA
members, market vendors, golf club workers, garbage pickers, jail inmates,
barangay employees, farmers and fisherfolk. The SSS Butuan branch is in talks
with a women’s group, a local government unit and a pump boat workers’
association for their future participation in the program.
"The AlkanSSSya makes it easy and
affordable for informal sector workers to save as little as about P12 per day
for monthly SSS contributions. Their accumulated savings wil be picked up by an
SSS collecting agent at the end of every month, making it convenient for them
to remit their contributions," he said.
Among those expected to attend the AlkanSSSya
launch are officials and representatives from the local government, the SSS,
MCTODA and BCBMPC. The Magallanes head office of BCBMPC, which is a
multi-awarded cooperative that provides financial services to farmers and other
marginalized workers in Northern Mindanao, will serve as the event venue.
Further, the official said June 7 will be a
double-celebration day as the AlkanSSSya launch immediately follows our signing
of a memorandum of agreement with the BCBMPC for the social protection of its
6,800 farmer-members.
"The interest and support for the
AlkanSSSya shown by various groups continue to fuel our drive to bring social
protection within reach of informal sector workers. These also attest to how
well the concept works in encouraging workers to save for their future, one day
at a time," de Quiros said. (RER/SSS Media Affairs Bureau/PIA-Caraga)
Caraga LGUs achieves 100% in LGPMS Health
Scorecard
UTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- The over-all
regional performance of all seventy-seven (77) local government units (LGUs) in
Region 13 (CARAGA) accomplished 100% on the LGU Scorecard on Health Online Data
Entry as a sub-system of the Local Governance Performance Management System
(LGPMS).
The Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) – Region 13 (CARAGA) was informed and commended on the status
of regional performance through an advisory dated May 24, 2013 from the Bureau
of Local Government and Supervision. Together with Region 13 that achieved 100%
status on regional performance are Regions II, III, IV-B, and the National
Capital Region.
The LGU Scorecard for Health is a tool to track
progress of health reform implementation to measure performance of Local Health
Systems. This is integrated to the LGPMS of DILG pursuant to the Memorandum of
Agreement signed by the Department of Health (DOH) and DILG as a convergence
effort in the generation of performance of local governments. This is one of
the scorecards in the Monitoring and Evaluation for Equity and Effectiveness
(ME3) of the Department of Health. It is a performance assessment of the
combined efforts of stakeholders within the province-wide health system (PWHS),
which include the clients and public private providers within the
municipalities, cities and provinces in order to highlight LGU performance on
health sector services.
Data from calendar year 2012 were utilized and
encoded on the online Health Scorecard. This excludes data from the Province of
Dinagat Islands for its questioned constitutionality of being a province was
resolved only on September 11, 2012 of G.R. No. 180050 in the case of Navarro
vs. Executive Secretary Ermita. (NCLM/Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa, DILG
13/PIA-Caraga)
SSS to open offices on Saturdays of June for
‘kasambahay’ registration
BUTUAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) – Social Security
System (SSS) branches nationwide will open for business on four consecutive
Saturdays in June to enable household employers and domestic workers or
‘kasambahay’, such as maids, nursemaids or yaya, gardeners, cooks and laundry
women, to register with SSS.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio
de Quiros, Jr. said all its branches will be open to issue social security (SS)
numbers for domestic workers as well as household employer ID numbers on June
8, 15, 22 and 29 to facilitate their mandatory SSS membership as provided under
the Kasambahay Law and the Social Security Law.
"As active SSS members, domestic workers
realize the fruits of their hard work in the form of SSS benefits for sickness,
maternity, disability, retirement and death. SSS also helps household employers
from solely shouldering the burden when their househelp faces financial
difficulties," he added.
The Kasambahay Law, or Republic Act No. 10361,
was signed into law on January 19, 2013 to ensure the social protection of
household employees under various government agencies, which include the SSS,
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Pag-IBIG Fund.
To get an SS number, domestic workers, including
family drivers who are considered household employees under the SSS charter,
must fill out and submit the Personal Record Form (SSS Form E-1) to any SSS
branch, along with a photocopy of any of the primary documents such as the
birth or baptismal certificate, driver’s license, passport, Professional
Regulation Commission card or seaman’s book.
Those without any primary document can give two
secondary documents, both citing their name and at least one indicating their
birthdate. SSS branches provide a comprehensive list of accepted secondary documents
such as the ATM card, bank passbook, marriage contract, NBI or police
clearance, voter’s ID or postal ID card.
"Only the Form E-1 and a photocopy of the
supporting documents need to be submitted, but they should present to us the
original copy for authentication purposes," de Quiros said.
"Without the documents, they will be issued
a number that may be used for paying contributions and reporting for SSS
coverage but not for availment of benefits and loans. They will attain
permanent SSS membership status upon submission of these required
documents," he added.
To secure a Household Employer ID Number, the
employer only needs to fill out and submit the Employer Registration Form (SSS
Form R-1). Existing household employers who still use their personal SS numbers
in paying the contributions of their domestic workers will be given their
Household Employer ID Number during their branch visit, via email or mail.
Household employers reporting workers for SSS
coverage must submit the Employment Report Form (SSS Form R1-A), the Specimen
Signature Card (SSS Form L-501), and the SSS Form E-1 of household employees
with no prior SSS coverage.
De Quiros said the domestic worker’s effective
date of coverage, which is the same as the date of employment, marks the start
of the respective household employer’s obligation to remit monthly
contributions for the household employee.
"If the effective date of coverage is
earlier than the date of registration, the household employer must submit a
‘Statement of Monthly Salaries’ received by the domestic worker starting from
the date of employment indicated in the SSS Form R1-A," he said.
The official added this will be the basis for
the computation of the accruing contributions that the household employer has
to settle.
Apart from registration services, SSS offices
with branch tellering facilities will also accept contribution payments of
household employers during the four selected Saturdays. SSS forms are available
at SSS branches and may be downloaded from the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph).
(RER/SSS Media Affairs Division/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano News: Presidente Aquino makigtagbo kang
Presidente Thein Sein didto sa Myanmar
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Hunyo 6 (PIA) – Sugdan ni
Presidente Aquino ang iyang hamubo nga pagbisita didto sa Myanmar aron
motambong sa 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia Summit ugmang adlawa
pinaagi sa pakigtagbo kang Myanmar President Thein Sein.
Puno ang skedyul ni Presidente Aquino sa iyang
usa ka adlawa nga pagbisita didto sa Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, aron tambongan ang
plenary sa WEF East Asia Summit ug aron usab personal nga maimbita ang mga
delagado sa WEF dinhi sa Pilipinas sunod tuig.
Kung mahinumdoman niadtong niaging bulan sa
Enero 2013 didto sa Davos gianunsyo sa Presidente nga ang Pilipinas maoy
mopasiugda sa WEF on East Asia Summit sunod tuig.
Si Presidente Aquino, uban ang mga delegasyon sa
Pilipinas, gikatakdang moabot didto sa Myanmar Biyernes sa buntag, ug mobalik
ra dayon kini pagkagabii.
Human sa iyang pakigtagbo kang Myanmar President
Thein Sein, mosunod dayon ang iyang pakighimamat kang Klaus Schwab ang
executive chairman ug Founder sa WEF.
Motambong usab ang Presidente sa usa ka luncheon
meeting nga pasiugdahan sa Ayala Corporation, CEOs ug mga negosyante.
Sa dili pa kini mopauli balik sa Pilipinas,
makigtagbo usa siya kang Aung San Suu Kyi, ang chairperson ug general secretary
sa National League for Democracy. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
