The Social Security System (SSS) said Rolando Ledesma Macasaet stepped down from his position as president and chief executive effective Oct. 6, after nearly two years with the state-run pension fund.
Macasaet, who has been the head of SSS since Jan. 5, 2023, was also vice chairperson of the Social Security Commission, the SSS’ policy-making body. Throughout his tenure, he championed the goal of ensuring every Filipino receives a pension.
Under his leadership, SSS intensified membership drives, extending social security coverage to all, including those in remote areas. He launched initiatives to bring services closer to grassroots communities and implemented programs benefiting SSS employees nationwide.
One of his notable achievements as SSS chief is expanding access to social security protection for more Filipinos through extensive membership coverage drives nationwide.
Under his leadership, SSS recorded a historic high of three million new members from January to September 2024, more than double the number of new members recorded during the same period last year.
“SSS typically averages around one million new members annually in previous years. However, for just the first half of 2024, we have already doubled that number due to our intensified efforts,” Macasaet said.
SSS is optimistic of reaching four to five million new members by year-end.
Macasaet advocated for SSS coverage for job order, contract of service and barangay workers who are not included in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) due to their employment status.
During his term, over half a million JO, COS and barangay workers in government could now access social security benefits through the KaSSSangga Collect Program.
The program aims to provide essential SSS coverage to JO, COS and barangay workers serving local government units (LGUs), national government agencies (NGAs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local water districts.
The SSS said that as of August 2024, there were more than 3,300 KaSSSangga Collect partners across the country.
