LEGAZPI CITY: Almost 5,000 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 5 (Bicol) will now enjoy the benefits and privilege of being a Social Security System (SSS) member. In an interview on Monday, Mayflor Marie Jumamil, DepEd-5 spokesperson, announced that 4,816 personnel from the regional office and 13 Schools Division Offices (SDOs) will undergo a series of orientations for the KaSSSangga Collect Program of SSS. According to Philippines News Agency, a DepEd staff will be assigned to collectively process the deductions and remittances for the JOs and COS workers, ensuring they face no difficulty in paying their contributions. They will be voluntary members, with contributions being collected through salary deductions. As SSS members, these personnel will gain access to benefits such as retirement, disability, maternity, death, sickness, and loan provisions. Jumamil further mentioned that regular employees who are already SSS members may also benefit f rom the program by opting to continue their contributions as voluntary members. "The SSS has already agreed to extend assistance for the continuation of their remittances of their preferred monthly contributions," she stated. DepEd Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad expressed his gratitude towards the SSS, highlighting the importance of the program in securing benefits for non-regular employees of DepEd-5. He emphasized, "We are truly grateful to the SSS for attending to the welfare of our JOs and COS because with this program, they can be enrolled as members and thus can be assured of its benefits that they can harvest even when they leave DepEd."