Thursday, June 30, 2022

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SSS: New programs to benefit informal economy workers, other individually paying members

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:03 AM PDT

SOCIAL Security System (SSS) President and CEO Michael Regino has announced on Monday, June 27, that two new programs -- the flexible payment schedule and the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP) -- are set to be launched in July to help ensure the social security protection of the informal economy workers and other individually-paying members.The planned payment schedule for the said types of workers will provide a longer payment window for them, where contributions for any of the last 12 applicable months may still be paid in the current month, so they can avoid missing applicable months that may qualify them for SSS benefits and loans."Considering that crops and fishery products have their harvest seasons, we are looking to implement a more workable payment schedule for farmers, fishermen, and other self-employed persons in the informal economy," Regino said, adding that "we recognize the unique situation of our informal economy workers and we are coming up with the appropriate payment program to make SSS more inclusive to as many fellow Filipinos."Another program is the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP), wherein the SSS may enter into a partnership arrangement with potential contribution subsidy providers among private and government entities who will pay contributions on behalf of selected self-employed workers, land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and voluntary members of the SSS.The minimum period of subsidy under the CSPP is six consecutive calendar applicable months.The results of a nationwide survey commissioned by the SSS that was conducted in the second semester of 2021 showed that there is a misconception among those in the informal economy and last-mile communities that SSS membership is only for those formally employed.Also, some of the challenges for members identified in the survey are the sustainability and payment of correct contributions, which are more likely for those in the informal economy.Regino said Filipino workers need social security institutions such as the SSS to provide them and their families with a layer of protection against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income."We hope that through these two programs, we may be able to extend our benefit and loan programs to those in the informal economy, gig economies, and last-mile communities," he added. (PR)

Nolitc, partners grow 105 trees at new campus

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:02 AM PDT

TO CAP the environment and pride month, the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (Nolitc), in partnership with the Provincial Environment Management Office (Pemo) conducted a tree growing activity at the Nolitc Global Campus in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City on Thursday, June 30.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said with this tree-growing activity, the province is doing things right because before Nolitc opens the new campus and starts accepting students, the aesthetic and environmental aspect of the campus is already in place making it conducive to learning."When we start correctly, we also stand and grow properly," Diaz said, adding that "a tree that starts crooked will always end crooked [and] if a tree stands firm it is rooted deeply, it stands proud and proper."The provincial administrator believed that Nolitc is up for the challenge of growing straight and competent students.Diaz also commended the Capitol-run center headed by Vocational School Administrator Dr. Ma. Cristina Orbecido for establishing a healthy and strong relationship with other stakeholders in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the province.He is hoping that this "new home" will inspire Nolitc staff to do more for the Negrense youth.Orbecido, for her part, said the center had organized the event to acquaint the industry partners in the new campus and a means to urge them to be part of Nolitc's environmental campaign.At least 105 seedlings of molave and narra tree were planted at the new campus.More than 80 participants joined the tree growing activity including officials and employees from Teleperformance, Ubiquity, Focus Direct Inc., iQor, ARB, and Audacity Studio.The event was in support of the 30th Provincial Environment Month celebration themed "Only One Earth." (PR)

NGCP completes integral components of Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:00 AM PDT

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has announced that it is now close to unifying the Philippine grid after completing several components of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), particularly the Santander and Dapitan Cable Terminal Stations, the 350-kiloVolt (kV) submarine cable, and the Lala-Aurora 138kV transmission line.NGCP, in a press statement Thursday, June 30, completed the construction of the Cable Terminal Stations (CTS) in Santander, Cebu and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte, as well as installation of two 92-km 350kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) power cables and two 92-km fiber optic cables.Site acceptance tests (SATs) were conducted at the Dapitan and Santander CTS to ensure that the facilities meet NGCP's requirements.The transmission utility said works on the submarine cable component commenced in November 2018 and was originally slated to be completed in June 2021.However, restrictions on entry of foreign experts, work suspension, and manpower reduction brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic contributed to significant delays in the project's execution.Damage to submarine cable no. 1 caused by a third-party vessel also delayed construction activities, with repairs completed only in November 2021.NGCP also reported that it successfully energized the Lala-Aurora 138kV Transmission Line on February 19 this year at 4:41 p.m. for Line 2 and 4:48 p.m. for Line 1.This MVIP component, on its own, will improve the reliability of power transmission services between Lanao del Norte and provinces in the Zamboanga Peninsula.The firm said they are happy to report that these critical MVIP components are now complete and ready for energization."We hoped this would finish on time, but factors beyond our control required an adjustment to our project timeline," it said, adding that "we are working double time to complete the overhead transmission line portions and advance the project to its commissioning stage to connect the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids."NGCP added that it continues to appeal for the support of the local and national government to push this project into fruition."Delays in local government permitting, and right-of-way issues from slow judicial processes and unsupportive landowners continue to delay our efforts," the transmission utility said.Through the MVIP, the Mindanao grid will be linked to the Visayas grid via an HVDC system with a 450-megawatt (MW) initial capacity.Several other components are for completion including the Dumanjug Bus-in to Colon-Samboan 138kV Transmission Line in December 2022; Dapitan-Lala 230kV Transmission Line, Kauswagan-Lala 230kV Transmission Line, and Kolambugan-Lala 230kV Transmission Line in August 2022; and the Dumanjug-Santander 350kV Transmission Line, Magdugo-Dumanjug 230kV Transmission Line, and Dumanjug-Alegria 230kV Transmission Line in October 2022. (With PR)

Incoming Bacolod mayor, Bnefit to focus on digital upskilling

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:55 AM PDT

LOCALS can now look forward to more digital jobs in Bacolod City because of a strong and productive public-private collaboration seen to further enhance the local talent pool and ensure power supply, smooth traffic, good peace and order situation and available infrastructure for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.This development came after officials of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (Bnefit) gave incoming Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo "Albee" Benitez an executive briefing on the ICT industry of the province at the Negros First Negosyo Center in Bacolod City on Tuesday, June 28.Bnefit chairman of the board and co-founder Jocelle Batapa-Sigue shared the current ICT landscape of the whole province including talent development, business environment, government support, and innovation programs, among others. Batapa-Sigue shared how Bnefit and partners tried their very best to double the number of digital jobs in Bacolod City from the 2016 count of about 30,000 to 60,000 by 2022.Also, their efforts to extensively expand the niche of the province and the city from voice-based digital jobs to software development, create processes like animation and game development, and healthcare information management.She also underscored some industry challenges like the apparent inability of the local talent supply to cope with the pace and growing complexity of the ICT industry, aside from the pandemic and calamities that struck the province. Benitez, for his part, committed to create programs to address the increasing requirements of the industry by partnering with the federation to generate a sustainable and comprehensive skills database to serve as a guide for investors and for the government to create more strategies.The incoming mayor also supported the challenge to upskill the local workforce for new technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, blockchain, and advanced creative processes.He also assured industry players in the city of better traffic management and improved peace and order, especially with a fully operational CCTV management system and support for local police, as well as cheaper and more stable power supply that can even entice data centers to locate in Bacolod."Our local workforce still needs to improve, especially in complex digital jobs, but that does not mean we will give up. It means we need to work together," Benitez told Bnefit officers.He also requested the federation to be the industry research and strategy partner of the city government to further enhance the ICT industry.Bnefit president Hajee Birth Aquino thanked the mayor-elect for devoting his time to listen to the federation and other ICT stakeholders including various agencies which serve as the latter's advisers such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).Joining Benitez were incoming councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Jason Villarosa, and Vladimir Gonzales, and Congressman Greg Gasataya.Gasataya also echoed the aim of Benitez to also support the establishment of startup incubators and accelerators to further nurture the innovation ecosystem of the city in response to the plan of Bnefit and the DOST to scale a industry-led accelerator space this year. As former councilor, Batapa-Sigue requested for the implementation of her ordinances since 2016 on establishing the Bacolod City Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Training Scholarships for Contact Centers, Software Development, Game Development, Animation and other IT Courses.Also, for the implementation Bacolod Business Promotions and Investments Week and Setting the Bacolod Trade Expo identifying Key Promotion Areas: Agriculture, Food and related industries, Gifts, Housewares, Decors and Other Craft-Based Industries, Manufacturing and other Industrial Business, Information and Communications Technology and Other Technology-Based Industries Tourism, Hospitality, Health and Wellness and other Service Industries.She recalled that as early as 2011, Benitez as representative of the Third District of Negros Occidental already signed a manifesto of support for the ICT industry, along with her as president of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) during the first Negros Occidental ICT Summit. The success strategy of BnefitT is to the constant collaboration of both the city and provincial governments, and beginning 2022, to also help create and strengthen ICT councils in major cities and towns in Negros Occidental with the support of the provincial government. (PR)

SSS partners with UBP for the issuance of Umid Pay Cards to members starting Q4 2022

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:49 AM PDT

The Social Security System (SSS) and UnionBank of the Philippines (UBP) signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday, June 27, that will allow SSS members to acquire Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (Umid) Pay Cards through the UBP.Aside from being a valid government-issued ID, the Umid Pay Card will be linked to a UBP regular savings account with no required maintaining balance, where members can receive the proceeds of their SSS benefits, loans, and refunds.Moreover, members who will be issued with the said Umid Pay Cards will be able to check their balance, withdraw cash, transfer funds, pay bills, or deposit cash through UBP's branches, self-service machines, and BancNet ATMs nationwide.They will also have access to the online and mobile banking platforms of the UBP, where they may perform additional transactions such as depositing checks, buying load, and creating savings goals, among others.The issuance of Umid Pay Cards through the UBP is projected to be made available in the fourth quarter of 2022.Further details about the program will be posted on the SSS website and social media pages. (PR)
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