By Johanne Margarette R. Macob
DAGUPAN CITY, Dec. 16 (PNA)– The Social Security System (SSS) has relocated its three branches in the cities of Alaminos, Dagupan, and Urdaneta, all in Pangasinan, to larger offices.
This was to give more space for transacting clients, branch personnel, and service facilities, said SSS Senior Vice President for Luzon Operations Group Josie Magana.
The transferred offices are operational though formal inauguration of Dagupan City is only on Dec. 15, of Urdaneta City on Dec. 16, and of Alaminos City early next year.
“This is certainly good news for our members in Pangasinan. The relocated SSS Alaminos branch, for example, is over four times larger than its previous location. Our Dagupan and Urdaneta branches also improved greatly in terms of office space and amenities,” Magana noted.
The floor area of each office has expanded from 96 square meters (sq.m.) to 429.48 sq.m. for SSS Alaminos, 420.22 sq.m. to 925.27 sq.m. for SSS Dagupan, and 339.80 sq.m. to 484.53 sq.m. for SSS Urdaneta.
“Despite the bigger office spaces, the SSS was able to negotiate rental rates that were even less than the leases of our three previous locations. The millions of pesos in savings generated from these new branch locations can be used to further improve our services and facilities for members,” Magana added.
The SSS Alaminos branch, formerly located at the Montemayor Building along the National Highway, was transferred to the AMA Building along Marcos Avenue in Barangay Palamis. Alaminos City is popularly known as the home of the Hundred Islands, one of the country’s top tourist attractions.
SSS Dagupan remained stationed along A.B. Fernandez Avenue, transferring from the Philamlife Building to Eastgate Plaza, while SSS Urdaneta moved from the AAG Building along Alexander Street in Poblacion to a rent-free location at the CB Mall along McArthur Highway in Nancayasan.
SSS Alaminos, Dagupan and Urdaneta are governed by the pension fund’s Luzon Central Division. It covers 2.18 million members as of September 2015, which is eight percent higher than the 2.02 million members as of September last year.
Aside from the three Pangasinan branches, the division also oversees SSS branch operations in Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga; Balanga and Mariveles in Bataan; Baler in Aurora; Baliuag, Bocaue, Malolos, Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte and Sta. Maria in Bulacan; Cabanatuan and San Jose in Nueva Ecija; Iba and Olongapo in Zambales; Camiling and Tarlac in Tarlac, where the division headquarters is located.
“Within the last five years, over a hundred new SSS branches and offices were established nationwide. Many of these are in strategic locations such as malls and municipal halls. We will continue to expand the reach of our branch network to bring our services closer to all types of workers,” Magana added.
SSS Alaminos functions as the supervising branch of the SSS Service Office (SO) at the Lingayen Capitol Ground. In a similar capacity, SSS Dagupan handles the SO at BH Family Plaza and Robinsons Place Dagupan, while SSS Urdaneta handles the SSS Representative Office at the Tayug Municipal Hall.
In Pangasinan, there are around 2.18 million SSS members being served by these three branches. (PNA)