SSS collects P916 million from amnesty

MANILA, Philippines – The Social Security System (SSS) collected a total of P916.45 million from its amnesty program that condoned penalties of overdue premiums, its top official said yesterday.

The unpaid contributions were collected from 17,920 employers in the last six months ending in August, SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr. said.

He also said that 11,588 employers, or about 65 percent, remitted P609.38 million in full payments while P307.07 million more were from installments.

“The SSS expects to collect P2.04 billion more in receivables from over 6,300 employers who opted to settle their premiums through installment payments,” he said.

About a third of employers who availed of the program were from the National Capital Region (NCR), whose payments combined for 61 percent of the total or P556.46 million. Receivables from NCR employers paying by installment amounted to P1.44 billion, and P276.41 million more are from those in Mindanao.

“We observed that majority of employers who availed of the program in NCR were construction firms, security and manpower agencies, single proprietors and large corporations,” he said.

The Social Security Condonation Act of 2009, which took effect last February, gave delinquent employers the option to remit their overdue premiums in full or pay by monthly installments of up to 48 months. Those who availed of the installment payment scheme issued post-dated checks to cover their delinquencies.

De Quiros warned those who did not avail of the program that the agency would file cases against them.

He said they may face imprisonment of up to 12 years, a maximum fine of P20,000 and a monthly penalty of three percent, as provided under the Social Security Law.

“We are happy that thousands of employers chose to make amends with their workers by availing of the amnesty program, which paves the way for their employees to be eligible for SSS benefits and loans,” he said. –Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star)