More than 700 job orders (JOs) and contractual workers of the provincial government of Catanduanes will now be covered by the Social Security System (SSS).

This, after Thursday’s signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the provincial government and the SSS for the KaSSSangga Collect Program, previously known as the KaltaSSS Collect Program.

In a phone interview on Friday, Anjo Evangelista, SSS-Virac information officer, said the program is “an automatic salary-deduction scheme that will be implemented for all JOs and contractual workers employed in the provincial government of Catanduanes.”

“The deductions from their salaries will be collected and remitted as part of their monthly contribution to SSS,” he said.

Evangelista said the KaSSSangga Collect Program aims to protect the welfare of the employees, who are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

“JOs and contractual workers don’t have the security of tenure. With this program under SSS, they can now enjoy social security protection, including sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, death, and funeral benefits with necessary qualifying conditions,” he said.

Evangelista said the employees may also avail of loan privileges such as for calamity, education and housing.

“Their membership is under the category of self-employed. The deductions will be based on their monthly salary, (and) with a minimum contribution of PHP570,” he said.

The state-governed pension fund for private sector workers also conducted series of free seminars and information dissemination activities on the benefits, loan privileges, and other SSS programs.

It also provided on-site membership and online updating of records to the prospective payors.

“We are grateful for the positive response of our LGUs (local government units) and other national government agencies (NGAs). We consult agencies and when they comply, they can see the interest of their JOs and contractual workers. With (the) MOA, the contributions of the employees are assured to be remitted,” Evangelista said.

On Aug. 20, the salaries of the 728 JOs and contractual workers of the Catanduanes provincial government will be deducted as the first remittance of their monthly contributions.

Aside from the Catanduanes provincial government, SSS has an existing MOA with other local governments in the province like the towns of Pandan, Panganiban, San Miguel, Baras, Gigmoto, Virac and Viga as well as national government agencies like the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Agrarian Reform.

SSS also has ongoing transactions and consultations with the LGUs of San Andres, Bato, Caramoran and Bagamanoc; and the Department of Public Works and Highways and Catanduanes State University. (PNA)