IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay (PIA) -- A local coffee house, a bakeshop, and a hardware store were among the business establishments in this city that were flagged by the Social Security System for their failure to remit contributions to the state social pension fund.

The Ipil branch of the SSS recently conducted a Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign in which 11 business establishments were issued show-cause orders for their failure to comply with SSS regulations.

Cellphone repair shops, a pharmacy, and a grocery store were also given red flags.

Lawyer Jacinto Felizarte from the Mindanao West Legal Unit and Marnelli Pastorfide, branch head of SSS Ipil, said the establishments were given 15 days to address their delinquencies.

"We want to raise awareness among employers and employees that coverage for SSS benefits is a right, not a privilege. It is a right that all Filipino employees must have—social security protection—and the agency entrusted with this mandate is the Social Security System," Pastorfide said.

RACE operations aims to ensure that employers fulfill their main duty of reporting and paying their employees' contributions. The SSS RACE campaign is conducted every quarter to safeguard the rights of Filipino employees. (KSA/RVC/RBI/JPA/KDF-GIP/PIA9-Zamboanga Sibugay)