The Social Security System is putting up two new branches in Mindanao next year as part of its efforts to expand its ‘geographical footprint’ in the midst of a growing membership base.
Emmanuel Palma, assistant vice president for southern Mindanao said the new branches slated for opening next year are located in provincial sites and districts with a high demand for SSS transactions.
These branches will process SSS numbers, applications and benefit claims such as sickness, maternity.
“About 121,000 branch account members of the SSS in Mindanao will have easier access to our services as we open our new branches in Nabunturan and in Calinan, Davao City,” said Emmanuel Dooc SSS president and chief executive officer during the Kapihan sa SSS Davao City on Wednesday.
“We have already sites
in these places but we are still finalizing it with Gaisano Nabunturan even as we are still looking for a bigger site for our Calinan branch,” “he added.
Palma said that the newly proposed branch is to decongest the main Davao branch and to make SSS accessible to its members including the self-employed and voluntary paying members including those in the informal sector.
Eddie Jara SVP Mindanao operation group said that the SSS aims to open many branches as possible and to upgrade existing offices as one of priorities and primary thrusts to better serve their members needs.
“We also hope that this increased access and visibility will also encourage more people to join SSS,” said Jara.
The SSS’ growth in the region is attributed to Davao’s reputation as one of the most livable cities in the Philippines where peace and order is remarkable, stimulating progress through multinational investments in the process.
The opening of new branches is considered one of the strategies for social security coverage.
Dooc said that there are 40 branches in the whole of Mindanao.
The SSS has a total of 304 offices, 24 of which are located abroad mostly in Middle East. “SSS operation in Mindanao is hitting its target both in terms of revenues as well as its previous initiatives, and the improvement of efficient and quality service that we are extending to the millions of members of SSS, “ said Dooc.
