Social Security System (SSS) chairman and Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go lauded the pension fund for launching its emergency loan program (ELP) to assist Filipinos recovering from natural disasters.
The initiative follows the issuance of Proclamation 1077 on Nov. 6, 2025, which declared a one-year state of national calamity due to widespread damage across the country.
The program allows qualified members to borrow between P1,000 and P20,000 to meet daily needs and start financial recovery. The loan carries a 7-percent annual interest rate and includes a six-month moratorium on repayments.
Go said the program provides a better alternative to informal lenders who charge high interest rates, allowing members to focus on rebuilding after disasters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the December rollout of the ELP extension. Under the guidelines, members can apply for the assistance within a year of the official announcement or until the state of national calamity is lifted.
The DOF welcomed the move as part of the commission’s efforts to provide faster services and wider coverage for its members.
Eligible members may submit their applications through the SSS online portal. The agency expects the program to provide a critical safety net for thousands of workers affected by the recent string of natural calamities that prompted the national declaration.
Meanwhile, the SSS provided its annual cash gift to pensioners – the 13th month pension – in two batches in the first week of December 2025, ensuring additional financial support during the holiday season.
The first batch, released on Dec. 1, 2025, covered around 2.13 million pensioners with a total amount of P10.5-billion credited to their accounts.
The second batch, credited on Dec. 4, 2025, covered around 1.53 million pensioners, amounting to P8.3 billion. In total, P18.8 billion was distributed to around 3.66 million pensioners.
SSS president and chief executive Robert Joseph de Claro said the annual cash gift is part of SSS’ commitment to support its pensioners during the holiday season.
“This is our way of giving back to our pensioners who have contributed to the System during their productive years. We hope this additional benefit brings joy and relief to them and their families this Christmas,” de Claro said.
