QUEZON CITY – In response to the 8 September 2025 directive issued by Department of Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission ex-officio Chair Ralph G. Recto to roll out faster services to pensioners and members, the Social Security System (SSS) has officially launched the MySSS Card – designed to transform the way Filipino workers, pensioners, and their beneficiaries access their social security benefits and financial services.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph Montes De Claro stated that the MySSS Card fulfills two purposes. It acts as an official ID, replacing the long-standing Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) card. It also operates as a fully functional debit card linked to a savings account.

De Claro noted that the card is equipped with an EMV chip. It is integrated with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) eVerify and biometric authentication. This provides a safe and convenient way for members to access SSS benefits and loans, as well as manage their daily financial transactions.

It merges social security benefits with digital banking, offering members a comprehensive way to access benefits, loans, and pensions quickly and conveniently. The card can also be used for shopping, public transport fares, and online purchases, De Claro explained.

The card will be issued exclusively through SSS partner banks. Issuance will start with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) and will later include other banks such as Asia United Bank (AUB), China Bank, and Union Bank of the Philippines.

De Claro said the MySSS Card will automatically serve as the main disbursement account for SSS members. “Once members apply for the MySSS Card, we will link their partner bank savings accounts to SSS for benefits, loans, and other proceeds. They no longer need to enroll the MySSS Card in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM).”

He stated that starting today, 1 October 2025, SSS will accept applications for the MySSS Card. RCBC, through its digital arm DiskarTech, will be the card’s first implementer.

“The SSS and RCBC partnership marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of government services,” he continued. “The MySSS Card’s rollout will expand as more partner banks join the program. This will provide more options for card issuance and banking features.”

How to Apply for the MySSS Card

The MySSS Card is available to all SSS members, pensioners, individual claimants, beneficiaries, and representative payees who meet the following requirements: possess a permanent SS number; have an active account on the My.SSS Portal with updated personal details, including local address, mobile number, and email; and be registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) under the National ID system, previously known as the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).

Members with old SSS, UMID, or previous ID cards may apply for the MySSS Card to replace lost or existing cards.

De Claro said the MySSS Card application is simple and can be completed via My.SSS. “Members choose their partner bank—initially RCBC—and consent to data sharing between SSS, the National ID system, and the bank.”

After online verification and identity confirmation, members open a bank account either using their online app or by visiting a branch. For RCBC, members use the DiskarTech app to open the account.

The partner bank will produce and distribute the cards. Metro Manila residents will receive their cards within 15 working days, while those outside Metro Manila will receive theirs within 20 working days.

He concluded that launching the MySSS Card is part of a larger government push. This initiative is led by Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission ex-officio Chair Recto, who has championed reforms within the SSS to enhance its service delivery.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – A late afternoon fire in Barangay Canlapwas, Catbalogan City, Samar on Tuesday, October 1, claimed the life of a provincial government employee and left more than 200 residents homeless, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported.

The blaze, which started around 5:30 p.m. in Purok 3, was traced to faulty electrical wiring that ignited the roof of a house owned by Rizalda Magallanes. Built from light materials, the structure quickly burned down, with flames spreading to nearby residences, investigators said.

Firefighters from the Catbalogan City Fire Station, assisted by volunteers, police, and responding units from neighboring Paranas town, battled the fire for nearly four hours. Raised to second alarm, the fire was declared under control at 7:20 p.m. and fully extinguished by 9:23 p.m.

Authorities confirmed that Reynold Muñez, 30, an employee of the Samar provincial capitol, perished in the incident. He reportedly ran back inside their burning home, thinking his family was still trapped, unaware that they had already escaped. His body was retrieved after the fire was put out.

The BFP reported that 23 houses were completely gutted while three others sustained partial damage, displacing 50 families or about 208 individuals. Property losses were initially estimated at P2 million.

Affected families are temporarily housed at a local church and the barangay hall, while the city government, led by Mayor Dexter Uy, has extended relief assistance.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

MACTAN,Cebu-On September 26 and 27, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Regional English Language Office (RELO) hosted a two-day intensive training in Mactan, Cebu, to equip 48 educators from various regions across the Philippines with innovative strategies for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in their classrooms.

This professional development was facilitated by three American English Language Fellows—Laura Roach, Maryann Miller, and Michael Schapiro. These Fellows are highly-qualified U.S. TESOL professionals selected by the U.S. Department of State for 10-month assignments abroad to support public diplomacy and educational capacity building.

The workshop, entitled “The Educator’s Edge: Mastering Literacy, AI, and Critical Thought,” focused on creating an integrated learning module that guides learners from basic language skills to critical thinking skills. This module will serve as a tool for the educators to utilize in their own classrooms and share with their colleagues, creating a multiplier effect in enriched pedagogical practices.

The training also provided hands-on experience to implement American-developed instructional technology. Educators were given a showcase and practical experience with a half-dozen U.S. AI/EdTech tools designed to personalize learning and increase classroom efficiency. These tools enable teachers to streamline tasks like content creation, assessment, and differentiation, allowing them to focus more on student interaction and critical thought development.

U.S. Embassy Regional English Language Officer Jeff McIlvenna framed the initiative as an investment in a critical bilateral relationship. “The paradigm of this activity was specifically designed by our American trainers for the professional development of Filipino educators,” he said. “This program is a concrete example of the robust bilateral cooperation and shared values between the United States and the Philippines, providing revolutionary techniques, and showcasing American excellence in English teaching in the Philippines.”

The program is the latest in a series of initiatives by the U.S. Embassy’s RELO to support education in the Philippines. American English Language Fellows are currently teaching and assisting in projects at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Southern Leyte State University, and Mariano Marcos State University, actively building long-term collaborations in education. (PR)