To include more Dabawenyos under an affordable social insurance plan, the Social Security System Davao Office is continuing to promote its ALKANSSSYA program to different sectors in the city.
On Friday (July 22) it launched an ALKANSSSYA program at the Free Methodist Church in Buhangin which is aimed at covering more than 80 pastors of the church as SSS members.
Mary Ellen Estoque, acting vice president of SSS South Mindanao Division said the ALKANSSSYA which was launched in 2013 aims to expand SSS membership to the informal sector particularly the tricycle drivers organized under the TODA and also organized market vendors. Over the years it has included other professional groups like freelancers, job orders and self-employed.
“Now they are not just for TODA (tricycle drivers) and market vendors they can also be availed by professionals,” Estoque said.
The ALKANSSSYA program is likened to an alkansya or piggy bank where members under an organized group can give their contributions in the form of daily savings. These savings are then picked by a SSS authorized collector.
According to Reverend Arnold Neri Rebuta of the Free Methodist Church they decided to partner with the SSS for the ALKANSSSYA as they wanted the pastors to be covered by SSS. And also, the easier process of paying for their contributions.
“We are looking forward that the SSS can help us and that paying our contributions would be smoother and easier,” Rev. Rebuta said.
Currently SSS Davao has about 15 groups spread throughout the city which are enrolled under the ALKANSSSYA program.
Greta Fe Quayle, regional communications officer of SSS Davao said they are continuously promoting the ALKANSSSYA program in the City.
“For those who want to join first and foremost the group should give an intention to the SSS office that they want to participate in the ALKANSSSYA. We would go to them to give an orientation then after the orientation we would register the members of their group who are not yet members of the SSS, then we would identify who are interested in joining the ALKANSSSYA,” Quayle said.
Those interested would be evaluated then the SSS would be scheduling a MOA after which they will be assisted on setting up in encoding they payments.
“We will be helping them all the way,” Quayle said. (PIA/RG Alama)
