As part of measures to make transactions convenient for members, the Social Security System (SSS) has partnered with the National Statistics Office (NSO) in developing a data matching program that will regularly scan the civil registry for deaths and marriages of SSS pensioners to verify their continued eligibility to pension.
The SSS-NSO partnership was forged under a memorandum of agreement signed by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. and NSO Administrator Carmelita Ericta on February 14, 2014.
Rita Baloy, SSS Officer-in-Charge for Benefits Administration, said the SSS-NSO partnership may pave the way for the eventual waiving of the Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) – or the required visit or submission of documents to reconfirm pension eligibility — for certain types of pensioners.
The pensioner’s death, remarriage of a surviving spouse and marriage of a dependent below age 21 are among the reasons for the permanent stoppage of pensions. However, monitoring other factors for pension cancellation – such as employment, cohabitation and recovery from disability — still needs the ACOP since these cannot be checked using NSO data.
“While the development of the new SSS-NSO project is underway, ACOP compliance is still expected of all SSS pensioners at present to ensure the continued release of their pension,” Baloy emphasized.
During ‘Phase 1” or the pilot implementation, the SSS-NSO data matching will initially focus on pensioners aged 80 and above who, in consideration of their health conditions, were allowed to submit their ACOP requirements through a representative or via mail.
“Under the pilot run scheduled this year, SSS will no longer require the yearly ACOP visit or submission of documents for pensioners aged 80 and above, since we will instead check their current status using NSO records,” Baloy said. “If the pilot implementation is successful, we shall proceed to ‘Phase 2’ that will involve NSO data matching for all SSS pensioners.”
With the wider access to NSO records, the SSS can readily secure the necessary certifications to verify the documents submitted by pensioners under the ACOP to ensure their authenticity.
Aside from helping pensioners with the ACOP, benefits of the SSS-NSO partnership are also seen to reach the greater SSS membership, since NSO will provide SSS a facility to secure certificates on behalf of transacting members and beneficiaries, thereby making the process more convenient for them.
The direct release of certificates from NSO to SSS will also help facilitate faster processing of benefit claims and other SSS transactions. NSO documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates are normally required by SSS to ensure the authenticity of claims filed by members and beneficiaries. (PR)
Easier compliance for pensioners seen with SSS-NSO partnership
E.Samar on the spot on the Cedric Lee misadventure
Businessman Cedric Lee and his coaccused Simeon Palma also known to many especially his co-mixed martial arts expert – as Zimmer Raz have graced a couple of pages in print media and aired in several broadcast channels for having been charged with serious illegal detention – a non-bailable offense. This was filed by television host and actor Vhong Navarro. Navarro accused them of beating him up and framing him for rape in January this year. The alleged rape charge of model Deniece Cornejo was allegedly committed and Cedric Lee master-minded the event with the objective of collecting P2 milion from the TV host, as reported.
Before the warrant of arrest could be served however, Lee and other coaccused fled to Eastern Samar to evade the long arms of the law. But they underestimated the fact that their faces have become known to everyone who reads and views tv channels so they were identified by some Estehaons that led to their arrest.
To the Estehanons putting their towns of Oras and Dolores on the map related to crimes do not ring well in their minds and hearts by making these towns appear like a perfect haven for criminals which definitely are not. There is therefore a need to counter this belief by highlighting and uncovering places of interest for tourists which abounds in the area. Eastern Samar is host to natural wealth and populated with hospitable, generous, kind-hearted and industrious citizens.
Come to think of it. How rich is Navarro to be a target of a frame up in order for a rich businessman like Lee to demand from him P2million.
There is more than meets the eye in this much celebrated case.
Commendable “Sponsor Philippines”
What was planned to be just a conjugal visit to a wife in Indiana, who has been on vacation for some time now, Sangguniang Bayan Member Dan Antonio Tentativa of Isabel got acquainted with and had intelligent interactions with members of “Sponsor Philippines”. This organization was newly created by Filipinos living in Indiana whose objective is to seek donations from philanthropic Indiana residents for varied relief goods for victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” that hit Eastern Visayas.
Tentativa was able to bring with him substantial packs of relief goods like canned goods, medical supplies, a lot of used clothing and many more. Upon his return from Indiana, USA he immediately went to Atipolo, Isabel Monday April 21, 2014 and distributed these goods to the badly hit families of the barangay. Some 150 households were lucky beneficiaries, and when asked why Atipolo was chosen as beneficiaries the good councilor says that this barangay has a lot of indigents.
JAHs Army, another civic organization organized in Tacloban with the same mission to help Yolanda victims also got a share of these relief goods JAHs Army was organized by Jason Tentativa, son of the councilor. He gave these typhoon aid to indigents of Basey, Samar.
It’s a father and son team-whose hearts bleed for the poor. Jason is a nurse who is still looking for a job and while at it he devotes his time in humanitarian mission. JAHs Army has already served Tacloban and other chosen towns of Leyte, all victims of the super –typhoon Yolanda.
-oOo-
Like what this column said several issues ago, Mayor Matin Petilla of Palo never tires and continues to be so to make a leadership difference in gthe local government of Palo.
The new municipal building that was partially destroyed by Yolanda is restored.
Recently she has made some improvements to Ginhangdan hill, a tourist area of Palo. She has initiated the planting of flowing trees along the slopes upstairs where a religious relic is built for adoration from catholic believers. . It is also being developed unto a picnic area. It has a viewing deck where one can enjoy savoring the beautiful scenery of Palo – a tourist haven.
Pretty soon we shall be seeing what she initially calls Palo Green Park with a renovated basketball and tennis courts. Along the sides will be food parks and a Tindahan Ha Barangay to sell basic commodities needed in barangay homes.
So many development projects are now sprouting in Palo that it has become quite hard to monitor them regularly.
In spite of her outstanding achievements for greater and more substantial performance as its town’s executive compared to former administrations, she is still being criticized NOT by tue-blue Paloanons, but from a very small group of broadcasters of the well-funded political opposition. Unfortunately for them nobody among well-meaning Paloanons believe them. Rightly so!!
What we need to teach
The climate is changing. We in Tacloban are living witnesses of the climate’s macabre leap.
Scientists have attested that climate change is fueling stronger and more powerful typhoons classified as category five typhoons. These typhoons, seemed to have been made from hell, would normally ravage the Philippine typhoon ring every 50-60 years. But now, they are markedly doing an annual stopover. Pablo (2012) and Yolanda (2013), strengthen the postulate that this year, another monster might destroy another city. Mother Nature is providing us with obvious signs and patterns that we have to understand and deal with.
For a fact, we may not be able to wholly reverse the effects of climate change given the sustainable growth of urbanization, but, we can decelerate it. While doing this, we should also leap towards intensive mass education on disaster and calamity awareness. On an average citizen’s level, this is one of the most doable preventive measures. As a victim city of a great typhoon, I feel we should initialize and pioneer this.
By saying mass education, this means the inclusion of disaster and calamity awareness in school’s lessons. In grade school, the apt subject for this type of lesson would probably be Science. Classroom lectures and discussions on disaster causes and effects and courses of action during actual tragedy, are recommendable to allow the students understand and put to heart nature’s ruinous U-turn. This will also help the students value the rationale of cascaded procedures in case the actual calamity comes. Aside from the routine of classroom lectures, application should also be done through frequent and random drills facilitated by teachers and other school officials. Drills should allow students to execute the best actions and procedures during crisis. This will help students experience the feel of a calamity, so that come actual disaster time, they will react accordingly.
DSWD and PAGASA should work hand-in-hand to train and educate the teachers as well. The two organizations should ensure that these teachers are fully equipped with knowledge to avoid critically erroneous teachings. This is also the best time to reactivate our dormant barangay officials. The government needs to tap them and oblige them to propagate preventive measures to their subordinates especially those who are illiterate and cannot afford schooling. I remembered, before the typhoon, that many barangay officials have poorly reacted towards warning reports of the media, resulting to the historic number of casualties.
This is no one-man effort. This will not work out without the cooperation of everyone. Let us stop blaming people already. I guess it is about time to stop dining on ashes and rubbing salt on our wounds. The best action now is to recover, understand and make use of the learning we acquired from the Yolanda experience. Let us please move on and brace ourselves for a rougher ride with nature. If we comply with the information we are spoon-fed with, the life that we save maybe our own.
Faith, fiction and the imagination
HUMAN as we are, we are always in some need of imagination. We cannot rely on our senses alone, or only on the things that we see, touch and smell. There’s a far richer universe than the physical and sensible world.
Neither can we be too dependent on abstract ideas. These concepts need to be embodied somehow to be truly enjoyed. What is usually termed as intellectual joy would be greatly enhanced if what causes it is also enfleshed or put, at least, in some sensible form.
This is where imagination comes in. The physical gets conceptualized, the material is spiritualized, on the one hand, and the ideas assume sensible shape and form, the spiritual is materialized, forming an image, on the other.
I believe we all realize how important it is to develop our capacity to imagine. In fact, we have to make it as powerful and rich as possible. But, of course, we also need to take precautionary measures so as to avoid going into extremes, resulting in some obsessions and perversions.
In this regard, we have to help one another—the elder, like the parents, taking care of the younger, the children; the more knowledgeable and better endowed taking care of the more simple ones among us.
It’s important that as much as possible we get to know each other well, entering into each other’s inner world of thoughts, desires, and yes, the imagination. That’s because that’s where we can truly say we are in communion as we ought to be.
Our unity and being together simply cannot be a result of a physical grouping or of blood and social relation. Our true unity is forged when we enter into each other’s inner world, and despite our legitimate differences, we are united in the basic, absolute truths.
Anyway, with regard to imagination as a result of putting some sensible form and image to abstract ideas and spiritual realities, we have to learn how to distinguish between an imagination
Prince Hypermart opens in Abuyog, Leyte
ABUYOG, Leyte-The economy of this town located in the eastern part of the province is expected to boom with the opening of the Prince Hypermart, one of the country’s fastest growing retail facilities.
The Prince Hypermart formally open for business on April 25 this year located right at the heart of the town proper occupying 3,000 square meters.
The one-storey Prince Hypermart in this town of about 60,000 people is the fourth in the region and the 13th overall under the management of Robert Go.
It first opened its branch in the region in Baybay City and soon after put up branches in Naval, Biliran and Maasin City in Southern Leyte.
Aside from its grocery, which offers much lower prices compare to other retail facilities, the Prince Hypermart has other tenants that sells medicines and medical equipment; mobile phones; and bread and pastries, among others.
Go said that he is confident that their Abuyog branch will also turn out to be a successful venture just like their other existing branches in the region.
“I am confident enough on this latest venture. I know the people of this town and nearby areas have the financial capacity to patronize our company,” Go said.
He said that their target clientele are those in the so-called CDE market as they offer lower prices compare to other hypermarts.
In fact, Go said, variety store owners comprises the main bulk of their patrons due to their low prices.
And as a sign of their gratitude, they are offering promo campaigns like providing them a discount or rebate.
And every Monday, the Prince Hypermart offers a buy one take one promo.
Go also said that they are also conscious of their social responsibility as they provide feeding to children in the depressed barangays and gives medals to students who topped their classes during graduations.
Meanwhile, Mayor Octavio Traya said that he was happy with the opening of the Prince Hypermart in their town.
He said that aside from helping their town’s economy, the opening of the Prince Hypermart in their town would also create additional employment to his people.
Initially, about 200 persons find jobs with the opening of the Prince Hypermart in Abuyog. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)