The Social Security System (SSS) said it closed 2025 by implementing a comprehensive pension reform program and set a course for 2026 that includes the launch of micro-loans, the hiring of 1,800 new staff and the opening of several overseas offices.
Social Security Commission chairman, president and chief executive Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said in a statement Wednesday the agency delivered on its promise to provide better benefits and faster services following directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Finance Secretary Frederick Go.
The 2025 pension reform program provided 3.8 million pensioners with annual increases scheduled every September through 2027.
Retirement and disability pensioners received a 10-percent increase, while survivor pensioners saw a 5-percent hike.
Loan programs also underwent significant enhancements during the year. The agency reduced interest rates for the Salary Loan Program to 8 percent for more than 600,000 borrowers and lowered Calamity Loan rates to 7 percent for 630,000 members.
It also introduced a new emergency loan program with a 7-percent interest rate and a 6-month repayment moratorium for 26,000 borrowers.
The agency said it expanded its reach into the informal and government sectors by registering more than 500,000 job order and contract of service workers who are not covered by the state GSIS fund.
Through the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program, Double Dragon Corp. paid P18.2 million to cover the contributions of 2,000 self-employed workers in Iloilo and Roxas cities.
The SSS said it plans to implement the second of three tranches of pension increases in September next year. The agency also received approval for a new micro-loan program scheduled to launch in early 2026. This will offer short-term cash options with tenors of 15 to 90 days and an interest rate of 8 percent per annum.
It said to improve service delivery and handle member complaints, the fund will embark on a massive recruitment drive to fill 1,800 positions.
The agency also plans to expand its physical footprint by opening 10 new local branches and establishing foreign representative offices in Madrid, San Francisco and Macau.
Further initiatives for 2026 include a potential partnership with the National Commission of Senior Citizens for pension confirmation processes and a P28.8 million commitment from Double Dragon Corporation to subsidize the contributions of 2,000 overseas Filipino workers.
De Claro said the agency remains committed to making the SSS relevant to every Filipino by enhancing digital platforms and promoting the value of long-term saving.
