Inmates given SSS ‘piggy banks’

CEBU, Philippines - The Social Security System (SSS) Cebu last Friday launched “AlkanSSSya” for inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

The program is a micro-savings program that aims to attract informal sector workers seeking access to social security protection. 

It makes use of numbered deposit boxes arranged in uniform vaults, where members save up on their premiums like piggy banks.

Each inmate is required to come up with P312 as monthly due.

“Kada alkansya naay pangalan sa membro, tua siya maghulog sa iyang  (The name of a member is written on each deposit box, where he drops his) contribution.  At the end of the month, the savings will be counted and remitted to the SSS thru the Bayad Center,” said SSS Cebu Branch Manager Mario V. Corro said.

Of the 1,700 CPDRC inmates, 160 were initially enrolled under the AlkanSSSya program.

SSS benefits such as retirement, disability, sickness, maternity, survivorship, as well as loan privileges would be made available to the inmates.

Present during the savings deposit launch were SSS officials led by AVP Helen C. Solito of the Central Visayas Division, CPDRC representatives led by OIC Warden Romeo L. Manansala, inmate president Lito W. Granada,  Bayad Center Operations Manager for VisMin Orlando R. Palompon, Corro, and Cebu branch accounts management personnel.

Barangay Kalunasan spent P15,000 for the boxes as its contribution to the program.  Barangay Captain Nunilon S. Monares, Jr. and his barangay councillors were also present during the kick-off ceremony.The launching was preceded by a dance presentation of the world-renowned dancing inmates of Cebu.

AlkanSSSya was initially conceptualized for tricycle drivers in Las Piñas City and has since been implemented in other key cities in Manila such as Paranaque, Marikina, and Pasig. —(BANAT NEWS)