SSS expands CSR programs

Beyond its mandate of service to its members, the SSS has always been aware of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) towards the greater public and its role as an instrument of humanitarian and social work. Starting from simple financial donations to socio-civic and charitable institutions, the SSS has ince expanded its CSR programs to incorporate activities that encourage volunteerism among individual SSS employees and employee organizations. This is the SSS’ response to the needs of the times and to the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to implement social welfare programs that would address the basic needs of Filipinos, especially the poor and vulnerable.

As expounded by SSS President and CEO, Secretary Romulo Neri, who also heads the policy-making body supervising the National Social Welfare Program (NWSP);

“Despite the current threat of the global financial crisis, we remain confident of the country’s prospects to fare even better than other developed or emerging economies. We at SSS are also ready to help mitigate the impact of the crisis on the poor and vulnerable sectors of society in line with the goals of NWSP. With our partner government agencies and private institutions, we at SSS are working together in ensuring food security and nutrition through feeding programs for undernourished school children; emergency and long-term employment through jobs and livelihood fairs; access to affordable healthcare through humanitarian and medical missions; and provision of supplemental social security benefits through loan restructuring and penalty condonation programs.

Jobs, housing and livelihood fairs

Annually, the SSS participants in jobs, housing and livelihood fairs conducted by colleges, universities, local governments, national government agencies,and private organizations. By providing SSS registration, membership inquiry and counseling services during these events, it is able to assist job seekers in their search for menaningful employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Internal to the organizations, the SSS conducted a two-month Summer Social Security Services (4S) Training Program, wherein about 2,000 displaced working students and dependents if laid off SSS members were given hands-on training on SSS programs and a daily allowance.

The SSS also continues to support the National Housing Fair organized by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council under Housing Czar, Vice President Noli de Castro. In this annual event, SSS markets its various foreclosed properties for sale to the general public at heavily discounted prices.

As the SSS contribution to the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Programs (CLEEP), the SSS Public Affairs Division conducted the first “SSS Jobs Fair and OFW Day”. Aimed mainly at SSS members, particularly OFWs, to help them find gainful employment or alternative livelihood prospects, this two-day multi-agency jobs fair was participated in by over 132 recruitment agencies/employers and was attended by over 2,000 job applicants.

Finally, the SSS actively participates in the “GMA Serbisyo Caravan’, which is a continuing public service caravan, spearheaded by PAGCOR, that brings government services closer to the common folk in various municipalities around the country.

Pensioners’ Day

The Pensioners’ Day Program was conceived as a way through which the SSS can serve the needs and help alleviate the economic plight of pensioners, especially during these difficult times. The twice-monthly Pensioners’ Day Program provides social and medical assistance to SSS pensioners, particularly the elderly, by extending their financial resources, which would have otherwise been spent on their medical needs. Also through this program, SSS pensioners are given a venue in which they could interact and socialize with their fellow pensioners in a light-hearted and entertaining environment, as well as life-coping mechanisms that the elderly particularly need. They also have opportunities to learn new knowledge and skills that help then live richer and healthier lives.

Feeding Programs

The SSS Supplementary Feeding Program which was approved by the Social Security Commission (SSC) under SSC Resolution No. 686-s.2008, is a six-month long program in which elementary students are given supplementary feeding five days a week. It is conducted inside the premises of the selected beneficiary school and facilitated by the school’s personnel. The SSS shall provide the funds for the purchase of foodstuff and related commodities for the Feeding Program. The selected school, on the other hand, shall be accountable to SSS for the utilization of the funds and shall submit monthly monitoring and accomplishment reports to SSS.

Thus far, the SSS has funded feeding programs for schools in Bani, Pangasinan, and of the missionary congregation, Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Sienna. Feeding programs for other municipalities are in the pipeline for the rest of 2009.

Humanitarian and medical missions

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the various SSS employee organizations. In times of natural disasters, SSS employees are always ready and willing to share their time, resources and efforts to aid needy victims. The Alert and Concerned Employees of SSS, the SSS Amateur Golfers Association and the newly-formed SSS Kabalikat ng Bayan Volunteer Corps are among the active SSS employee organizations that hold charitable donation drives, as well as humanitarian and medical missions in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross, the National Disaster Coordinating Council, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Reserve Command. In 2008, the Kabalikat Volunteer Corps, held back-to-back humanitarian/medical missions in Cabatuan, Iloilo and Numancia, Aklan for residents displaced by typhoon “Frank”; then in 2009 in Bani, Pangasinan for the victims of typhoon “Emong”. –Philippine Star