27,122 Central Luzon firms fail to pay SSS premiums

MEYCAUAYAN, Bulacan, Philippines — The Social Security System (SSS) has recorded 27,122 delinquent employers in its 10 offices in Central Luzon as of March this year.

Gloria Corazon Andrada, SSS vice president for Central Luzon, said these delinquent employers were recorded in the SSS offices in Baliwag, Bocaue, Malolos, Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte and Santa Maria, all in Bulacan; Angeles City, Dau and San Fernando in Pampanga, and Olongapo in Zambales.

“These employers are subject to reconciliation efforts with the agency and have outstanding principal obligations and penalties amounting to P2 billion,” Andrada said.

She said the SSS has special programs to ease the financial burden of employers who were affected by the pandemic.

“The SSS understands the plight of our employers during this pandemic. We are offering pandemic relief and restructuring programs (PRRPs), which condone penalties and offer options for these employers to settle their delinquency,” Andrada said.

The PRRP 2, or condonation of penalties on social security contributions program, is being offered to employers with delinquencies from the applicable month of March 2020 and onward. This program will run until Thursday.

“Employers who have no means of immediately settling their past due social security and employees’ compensation contributions may avail themselves of the PRRP 3 or the enhanced installment payment program, which offers flexible payment terms depending on the total amount of delinquency. Qualified applicants may apply until Nov. 22 this year,” Andrada said.

Interested employers who want to avail themselves of these programs may coordinate with their assigned account officers at their SSS branches.