The Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday announced it will extend financial assistance to members and pensioners in areas affected by severe tropical storm “Paeng,” starting Nov. 17 until Feb. 16, 2023.
SSS president and chief executive officer Michael Regino said the SSS calamity assistance package consists of the calamity loan assistance program (CLAP) for its members and the three-month Advance Pension for SSS and employees’ compensation pensioners.
“We, at SSS, are always ready to assist our members and pensioners in the typhoon-stricken areas. We want to assure them that even during times of calamities, they can rely on the financial assistance from SSS,” Regino said.
SSS members and pensioners in the areas to be declared under state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or the Sangguniang Bayan, Panglungsod, or Panlalawigan can avail of the financial aid, he added.
Provinces declared under state of calamity were Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur.
In Cagayan, the towns that are under the state of calamity included Amulung, Enrile, and Tuguegarao City.
In Marinduque, municipalities of Mogpog, Santa Cruz, and Buenavista were also placed under a state of calamity, as well as the towns of Pigcawayan, Libungan, and Midsayap in Cotabato.
Under the CLAP, qualified members in Paeng-hit areas can borrow a loans equivalent to their one monthly salary credit or a maximum of P20,000.
The calamity loans are payable in two years, or 24 equal monthly installments with an annual interest rate of 10 percent.
“We want to help our members and pensioners during these difficult times. We hope that the financial aid that we extended to them will be of big help to rebuild their lives,” Regino said.
SSS members and pensioners in typhoon-affected areas still have until Jan. 6, 2023 to avail of the CLAP and the three-month advance pension.
