COTABATO CITY (PIA) — The Social Security System (SSS) in Cotabato City is set to collect a total of P2.9 million from eight delinquent employers following the conduct of the third Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operation on June 19 in this city.
The RACE operation reminds employers of their legal responsibility to their workers under Republic Act 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018, to ensure continuous social security coverage of members and enhance the agency’s collection efficiency.
A team from the SSS Cotabato City branch visited eight establishments engaged in the following businesses during the RACE campaign: food, motor parts, printing shops, eye clinics, schools, hotels, and security agencies.
“‘Yun pong binisitahan na walong employers are representing six unpaid contributions and 2 are unregistered sa SSS,” Redentor Viola, vice president of SSS Mindanao South 2 Division said.
(Six unpaid contributions and two unregistered SSS employers make up the eight employers visited.)
In a press conference, Viola emphasized that the RACE campaign is a regular activity of the SSS, which aims to increase awareness among employers of their duties and responsibilities.
“If in case they are not reporting properly the number of employees they have, ‘yun din ang mga panahon na binibisitahan sila at nire-remind (those are also the times when they are visited and reminded). Kailangan kasi 100 percent ng mga employee nila are duly reported (It is necessary that they are 100 percent reporting their employees) for SSS coverage at binabayaran sa tamang panahon ‘yung corresponding contributions (and they are paying their contributions on time),” Viola explained.
The RACE campaign targets employers with fewer than 100 employees, as well as micro and small businesses.
Viola also explained that employers have a 15-day grace period to settle their delinquencies amicably. He said that failure to comply within the given time will result in legal action under the law.
“Meron po kaming mga account officer na nagmo-monitor sa payment of the contributions. Kapag hindi po nagbabayad sa tamang panahon, bini-bill po sila, and they are given 30 days to comply with the billing; otherwise, ang mangyayari, isa-submit po namin sa legal department para magserve si legal department ng final demand na 15 days ang binibigay. ‘Pag hindi nila na comply, then we will file a case,” he stressed.
(We have account officers who monitor contribution payments. We bill them when they fail to pay on time, giving them 30 days to comply; if they don’t, we forward the bill to the legal department, who then has 15 days to fulfill the final demand. If they don’t comply, then we will file a case.)
Viola added that the employers may also request delinquency management, restructuring programs, or contribution penalty condonations to settle delinquencies through a one-time payment or installment terms.
“Ang intention naman po ng SSS ay hindi parusahan ang employer. Alam namin na may mga reason kung bakit nade-delay sila, except for the few na talagang intentionally ang pag violate sa SSS law,” he pointed out.
(The SSS’s intention is not to punish the employer. We understand that delays occur for various reasons, with the exception of those who deliberately breach the SSS law.)
Moreover, Orly Mabinay, branch head of SSS Cotabato City, has reminded employees in this city to continuously monitor their contributions through the SSS online portal.
“Inuulit ko ‘yung aming mandato sa SSS, lalo na sa Cotabato, sa mga employees natin na continue monitoring ‘yung kanilang mga contributions. Kung meron po silang problema, open po ang office natin 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said.
(Our mandate in the SSS, especially in Cotabato, is for our member employees to continue monitoring their contributions. If they have a problem, our office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (LTB – PIA Cotabato City)
