The Commission on Audit flagged the Social Security System for failing to collect P93.747 billion worth of premium contributions from delinquent employers in 2023.
COA said SSS was only able to collect P4.581 billion or 4.89 percent of its P93.747 billion collectibles.
Total net collectibles of SSS stood at P89.166 billion as of December 31, 2023, covering 420,267 delinquent household or business employers.
COA likewise flagged the Department of Health for P2.83 billion worth of deficiencies in the implementation of its Health Facilities Enhancement Program in 2023.
HFEP’s budget for 2023 covered the construction, upgrading, or expansion of government healthcare facilities, purchase of hospital equipment and motor vehicles, as well as upgrading of facilities for COVID-19 response.
“The foregoing deficiencies affected the benefits that the public could have derived from the immediate and maximum use of the said facilities and the non-attainment of the program objectives,” the COA said.
As for the deficiencies noted in SSS collections, COA said the inefficiency “deprived the SSS of much-needed funds for the timely delivery of social security protection, claims, and benefits, to its members and their beneficiaries.”
SSS data showed that some 349,189 active employers did not avail of the installment plan for their delinquent accounts, which translated to an outstanding balance of P63.29 billion.
COA said 64.91 percent or about P57.87 billion in net collectibles were from employers under the National Capital Region Operations Group.
“As an audit rejoinder, we stress that the pending cases aged more than five years posed a significant 59.36 percent of the total cases filed, which is alarming because it indicates a high volume of unresolved cases that could negatively impact the financial health of the SSS if not promptly addressed by the concerned Departments/Divisions,” the COA added.
The SSS management said concerned departments will monitor and review status of delinquent accounts, with continuous coordination with legal enforcement bodies to facilitate enforcement of arrest warrants for apprehension of accused employers.
The DOH, for its part, said it will require the head of its HFEP Management Office to intensify monitoring of projects.
State auditors said the DOH deficiencies identified “displayed poor strategic planning and inadequate monitoring by the agencies.”
“Thus, the main goal of HFEP to improve the delivery of basic, essential, as well as specialized health services through the revitalization, rationalization, and upgrading of health facilities were not attained,” COA said.
