San quintin: The 217 barangay workers of the 21 villages in San Quintin town, Pangasinan, can now avail of the benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) as the municipal government subsidizes their contributions.

According to Philippines News Agency, SSS Urdaneta branch head Christopher Servas, in a phone interview, said the figure, composed of barangay health workers and barangay peacekeeping action team members, is just the initial number of enrollees, as the local government also plans to include members of civilian volunteer organizations in the program.

"All benefits they can avail like those of the employed SSS members since they are covered as self-employed under the SSS Contribution Subsidy (Provider) Program (CSSP) as barangay workers but fully subsidized by the local government unit (LGU)," he stated. SSS membership provides various benefits and financial protection, including sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, unemployment, death, and funeral benefits. Members can also access loans for purposes like salary, housing, and business.

San Quintin town is the first LGU in the province to adopt the program, subsidizing the PHP760 monthly contribution of each enrollee. Servas mentioned they are campaigning for the SSS-CSSP among local government units for barangay workers whose honoraria are meager, as well as the indigent farmers in the fifth and sixth districts of Pangasinan.

"Hope this will be a stimulus for other LGUs not only in the fifth and sixth districts of Pangasinan but the entire province to dedicate public funds for this purpose because such will have a transcendental effect not only on the lives of the barangay workers but as well as their families or beneficiaries," he added. The SSS Urdaneta branch will be making rounds again in the LGUs under their jurisdiction for the SSS-CSSP. "This is for nation building and poverty alleviation," Servas concluded.