TAGBILARAN CITY, December 2 (PIA)--Of all Bohol towns, Ubay leads in social protection of its contractual and job-order employees getting them Social Security System (SSS) coverage.
During the signing of a memorandum of agreement between SSS and Ubay Local Government Unit, November 28, Mayor Constantino Reyes elevated Ubay's name in Bohol history for its pioneering move to heed to the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) call for self employed coverage of workers not covered by the government insurance system.
Through DILG Memorandum Circular 2014-83 issued July 2014, the government encourages LGUs to persuade contractual and job order personnel cot covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to register as SSS self employed members.
Under the SSS expanded self employed program coverage, those who apply for coverage would have protection against disability hazards, sickness, maternity, old age, death and other SSS offered services of contingencies.
Unlike the unfounded fears of LGUS, Ubay does not even have the obligation to pay the employer counterpart of the monthly contributions, according to SSS Bohol Area Branch Head Dioscoro Madanguit.
One only needs to get a resolution form the town council giving authority for the implementation of the salary deduction scheme of the personnel's monthly contributions, he added.
The MOA however ensures that the LGU is authorized to perform automatic deductions of the monthly SSS contributions and salary loan amortizations from the salaries and wages of the member, Madanguit added.
By the MOA, Ubay also assigns an SSS liaison officer while SSS can now give free seminars and presentations to employees.
According to Madanguit, of the national government agencies responding to the call for more social protection to the vulnerable sector of the contract and job order workers not getting insurance coverage from GSIS, only the DILG and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have signed interest.
In Ubay, present during the MOA signing which happened at around 11 AM were SSS VP Atty. Alberto Montalbo, OIC Branch Head Benjamin Pombo, OIC Area Branch Head Madanguit, OIC Area Manager Eutiquio Bernales Jr., AV Fidel Magtajas ad JO representative Rolando Ibale, Mayor Reyes' executive assistant.
Many LGUs are hesitant in implementing the memo, thinking they would be forced to pay the employer's counterpart, Madanguit supplied the information.
But, he noted, the membership would be self employed, so there is no financial obligation from the LGU other than the ones they deduct for the personnel's contributions.
With Ubay leading, we hope we can get more LGUs implementing the program which would actually help their workers set up a protection system in times of need, Madanguit said.
For his part, Mayor Reyes said his administration would continue to find ways to improve its services to Ubayanos, and for those especially working to make living in the town comfortable and easy. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
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