Mayin de los Santos/ PNS
In compliance with the Aquino Administration’s transparency and accountability thrust, the Social Security System (SSS) urged all members to avail of its electronic services and monitor their accounts.
In a press conference dubbed “Kapihan sa SSS” held at Hotel del Rio recently, SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio De Quiros Jr. said the SSS is trying to improve its system to effectively and efficiently service its members.
In his State of SSS report, De Quiros said members can now reach SSS through five main information and communication channels, namely: SSS website, call center, TEXT-SSS, email and social networking site, Facebook.
“We are trying to improve our system to service our members and these improvements are geared towards more transparency (in SSS operations),” said De Quiros.
“Magbibiyahe ka nang napakalayo pero magtatanong ka lang pala ng questions na pwedeng sagutin sa text,” he quipped, and added that the move to electronic transactions also aim to provide convenience to its members by hastening the delivery and accessibility of SSS services.
He noted the surge in the number of registered members online during the first quarter of this year as well as the number of transactions coursed through their website.
De Quiros also announced that members can make phone inquiries through their 16-hour call center.
“SSS members can now make phone inquiries about contributions, benefits, loans and other SSS concerns beyond regular business hours, with the new SSS call center,” he said.
This is open to callers Mondays to Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
De Quiros added that SSS plans to provide a 24/7 call center service to cater to overseas Filipino workers members despite the difference in time zones.
This shift to electronic transactions, said De Quiros, is also to ensure delivery of funds to members, particularly the short-term benefits and salary loans.
“Our aim is to institutionalize check-less transactions to eliminate problems that may occur with sending checks through mail, such as delayed, stolen, misdelivered or return-to-sender checks,” he explained.
“Electronic reimbursement will offer greater convenience for members and employers since they no longer have to go to a bank to encash or deposit their checks, nor wait for the required check-clearing period,” he added.
De Quiros noted the SSS signed a memorandum of agreement with CitiBank for the electronic release of salary loan proceeds and short-term benefits through a special cash card for individual members.
“The card is valid for three years and can be used in automated teller machines (ATMs) and for debit transactions,” he added.
De Quiros said SSS expects to start issuing the new City Prepaid Card within the second half of 2012.
Meanwhile, with the online accessibility of members’ accounts, the SSS and the members can monitor if the payments are religiously remitted by their employers.
De Quiros advised members to immediately report to their office any discrepancies between the payments deducted from their salaries and the payments reflected in their online account.
“We have teams created for the purpose of monitoring the employers’ compliance in remitting their employees’ payments,” he said, particularly the large account employers.