Butuan partners with DOLE-NRCO
By Diana Generalao
BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 1 (PIA) - In the
implementation of R.A. 10022 or otherwise known as "The Migrant Workers
and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995," several partner agencies including
the local government unit (LGU) of Butuan
have formally engaged in an undertaking with the Department of Labor and
Employment – National Reintegration Center for OFWs (DOLE-NRCO), through a
memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing, recently.
The recent move by the LGU of Butuan is focused
on intensifying and updating its existing programs and corresponding services
related to conducting relevant skills training for OFWs and their families
through the Butuan City Manpower Training Center (BCMTC) and facilitating local
and overseas employment through its Public Employment Services Office (PESO).
In addition to its current responsibilities, as
stated in the MOA, the LGU of Butuan will also assign a Focal Person to
facilitate the concerns of OFWs and their families, organize a group or
committee that will provide appropriate services to the OFWs and their
families, and assist in the identification, establishment, monitoring and
evaluation of livelihood projects for OFWs and families.
Further, the MOA stipulates that programs shall
be technology-driven, resource-based, and sustainable for OFWs and their
families, and that the partner-agencies shall be responsible for providing
trainings, technologies and resources.
Other partner agencies include the regional
offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration,
Public Service Employment Office, Department of Trade and Industry, Department
of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training
Institute, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Commission on Higher
Education, Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board, Professional
Regulation Commission, National Food Authority, Social Security System, Home
Development Mutual Fund – Pag-ibig, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation,
Land Bank of the Philippines – Butuan City Branch, Land Bank of the Philippines
– Butuan Lending Center, and Saint Joseph Institute Of Technology, Butuan City.
(Butuan City PIO/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
SSS advises OFWs, self-employed and voluntary
members to settle contribution underpayments
MANILA, Mar. 1 (PIA) - The Social Security
System (SSS) called on self-employed and voluntary members, including overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs), to settle any contribution underpayments to ensure
that their monthly premiums for January 2014 onwards are aligned with the new
SSS Contribution Schedule.
Underpayments are caused by monthly
contributions that were paid in advance and based on the old SSS contribution
rate of 10.4 percent and maximum monthly salary credit (MSC) of P15,000.
Starting January 2014, the contribution rate has increased by 0.6 percent to 11
percent, while the maximum MSC is now P16,000. Affected members include those
who made advance payments prior to the announcement of the new SSS Contribution
Schedule – such as self-employed and voluntary members –as well as members
unaware of changes in the amount of contributions that took effect starting
this year.
Self-employed and voluntary members who paid at
the minimum MSC of P1,000 would have an underpayment of P6.00 per month. As for
affected OFW-members who paid contributions based on their minimum MSC of
P5,000, their underpayment would amount to P30.00 per month.
“Members can settle their underpayments at any
SSS branch with tellering facilities, which are open from Mondays to Saturdays,
or in any of our accredited local banks. They must use the SSS Form RS-5 and
indicate that the amount paid is intended for settling their underpayment for
the specified applicable months,” said Judy Frances See, SSS Senior Vice
President for Account Management.
Meanwhile, affected self-employed, voluntary and
OFW members with payments above the minimum MSC may opt to pay the
corresponding increase in contributions to retain the posting of their payments
at the same MSC. Otherwise, their contributions will be posted at the
applicable lower MSC.
“We advise members to settle their underpayments
and put their contribution records in order as early as now to avoid issues
arising from 'out-of-bracket' payments. Members paying at the minimum MSC, in
particular, will have their contributions deemed 'ineffective' if they fail to
settle the corresponding underpayment that will complete the full amount of the
minimum monthly contribution,” See added.
She urged members to strive to pay contributions
at higher MSCs to benefit from bigger SSS benefits and salary loans. The MSC,
which relates to the amount of the member's monthly income covered by
contributions, serves as a major basis for computation of benefits and loanable
amounts.
Members can view the new SSS Contribution
Schedule and the SSS Advisory showing the list of underpayment amounts per MSC
at the SSS Website (www.sss.gov.ph). Various SSS forms, including the RS-5 Form
needed for settling contribution underpayments, are also downloadable from the
SSS Website. (SSS/PIA-Caraga)
