DEAL. Social Security System president and chief executive officer Rolando Macasaet and University of the Philippines president Angelo Jimenez (3rd and 4th from left) shake hands after signing a memorandum of agreement on Aug. 14, 2024. The deal will extend social security benefits to UP contract of service and job order employees. (PR)
MANILA – The University of the Philippines (UP) System and the Social Security System have signed a memorandum of agreement to extend social security benefits to contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) employees.
Through the KaSSSangga Collect Program, UP will collect and remit the contributions of COS and JO personnel who will authorize the university to process these with the SSS, according to the agreement signed Aug. 14 with SSS president and chief executive officer Rolando Macasaet.
“Although we do not have direct employer-employee relationships with the concerned personnel, we aim to use our resources to help alleviate some of their worries, especially about their savings through social security coverage,” UP president Angelo Jimenez said in his message during the signing.
“Protecting the university’s future includes protecting the future of our personnel as well,” he added.
The agreement will cover UP employees who are existing SSS members through private employment or self-employment and will opt to continue paying contributions as voluntary members.
SSS Branch Operations Group executive vice president Voltaire Agas, SSS-National Capital Region Operations Group senior vice president Maria Rita Aguja, UP vice president for administration Augustus Resurreccion and UP assistant vice president for administration Richard Javier witnessed the signing of the agreement.
The deal was initiated by the SSS in a proposal submitted to the UP Office of the President in 2022, offering an alternative arrangement for COS and JO staff not covered by Republic Act No. 8291, also known as the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997.
The SSS cited a circular jointly issued by the Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management to provide COS and JO employees the option to enroll themselves in social security programs, such as the SSS, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBlG).
“I believe that our goals to serve the nation through high-quality and efficient services make us reliable partners for our COS and JO personnel,” Jimenez said.
In June, the state university held its first recognition rites for the UP System administration’s agency-hired employees, citing their “long years of continuous service to UP System offices and their commitment to UP’s brand of public service.” (PR)
