Loan moratorium, penalty freeze, TUPAD payout planned
The Social Security System (SSS) said Sunday it is studying the feasibility of a loan moratorium for its members and a condonation program for employers’ contribution penalties, as part of a broader effort to cushion the impact of ongoing economic challenges linked to the Middle East conflict.
SSS president and chief executive officer Robert Joseph de Claro said the proposed measures aim to provide immediate financial relief to both workers and employers struggling with rising costs, while ensuring the continued delivery of social protection benefits.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is also stepping up efforts to assist workers affected by rising fuel costs, particularly public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who are among the hardest hit sectors.
DOLE spokesperson Assistant Secretary Lennard Serrano said the agency is exploring the use of its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to provide emergency employment and income support.
“TUPAD is a social protection program of DOLE that supports vulnerable and marginalized workers, including those who lost or are about to lose their jobs or livelihood such as during this state of national energy emergency,” Serrano said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
“TUPAD is cash-for-work. It gives emergency employment, assistance that is immediate and temporary in nature for vulnerable, marginalized, and displaced workers,” he added.
Earlier, DOLE said it has prepared an initial standby fund of P1.2 billion to assist workers who may lose their jobs or suffer income losses due to the ongoing crisis.
The budget will be channeled through TUPAD and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), both of which are designed to support vulnerable and displaced workers.
The department is implementing these interventions under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), established through Executive Order No. 110, which declared a state of national energy emergency.
Under existing guidelines, TUPAD beneficiaries may be provided with 10 to 90 days of temporary employment, depending on the approved program design.
Serrano also pointed out that the government’s P5,000 fuel subsidy for PUV drivers may only cover a few days’ worth of diesel, underscoring the need for additional support mechanisms.
At the SSS, de Claro said: “We are expediting internal reviews and consultations with stakeholders to roll out these support initiatives as swiftly as possible, while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the SSS fund.”
He added that the agency is also evaluating options to extend contribution payment deadlines for employers and individual-paying members to provide greater flexibility under current conditions.
“We recognize the hardships many Filipinos are enduring. SSS remains committed to protecting the welfare of our over 40 million members,” de Claro said.
The SSS chief emphasized that any relief measures would be carefully calibrated to balance short-term assistance with the long-term viability of the pension fund.
Amid rising fuel costs, Senator Erwin Tulfo urged both private companies and government offices to revive work-from-home arrangements and promote ride-sharing schemes to help workers reduce daily transportation expenses.
“For example, those in office jobs involving planning, research, administration, customer service, and other similar work can work from home,” Tulfo said in a statement.
He noted that remote work arrangements had been widely implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and proved effective across multiple sectors.
“Even medical consultations and checkups were done online by doctors during the pandemic. Why not do that again now?” he said.
For industries requiring physical presence, Tulfo suggested that employees adopt carpooling arrangements to share fuel costs.
“If physical presence at work is required, such as in manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, or hospitals, co-workers can just use one vehicle and split the cost of gas,” he said.
Tulfo also raised concern over what he described as a growing number of stranded commuters, which he attributed to a reduced number of public utility vehicles operating due to high fuel prices.
“With these steps that we have tried before, workers can save money,” he said.
The proposals add to a growing list of government and private sector responses aimed at mitigating the impact of rising oil prices on Filipino workers and businesses, as uncertainty in global energy markets continues.
As part of its response, the SSS is also accelerating digital initiatives aimed at streamlining administrative and implementation processes.
These efforts are expected to reduce compliance burdens for members and employers while ensuring the timely delivery of services and relief programs.
Once finalized, the SSS said details of the loan moratorium, penalty condonation, and other assistance measures will be announced through its official communication channels.
DOLE’s Serrano said the department began monitoring potentially affected sectors as early as March, following the declaration of a state of national energy emergency, and has been coordinating with other government agencies to develop targeted interventions.
“This program is inclusive. Starting from the state of national energy emergency in March, we are looking at and monitoring sectors that may be affected by the increase in the prices of oil and other events due to the war in the Middle East,” he said.
“We immediately coordinated with other government agencies that can help in giving assistance and support to our drivers,” he added.
PUV drivers, he said, have been particularly vulnerable to fuel price hikes, which directly affect their daily income.
“Drivers are especially valuable today. But we see that they are also one of the most affected due to the rise in the cost of fuel, so we are checking what assistance we can give through the TUPAD program,” Serrano said.
The DOLE official noted that consultations are ongoing to finalize the framework for assistance. Meetings were held last week, with another scheduled to finalize the program details.
“In our meeting, we looked at how TUPAD can help. We met on Thursday and Friday, and on Monday we will meet again to finalize. Hopefully after Holy Week, we can implement this,” Serrano said.
He added that the department is also considering expanding coverage to include other transport workers such as tricycle drivers.
“We are also looking at who else can be included in the program. We are checking if tricycle drivers can be beneficiaries,” he said.
To support the rollout of these programs, DOLE is coordinating closely with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and local government units.
Initial efforts are focused on transport workers to ensure the continued operation of public transport services and minimize disruptions to economic activity.
The department has also identified other sectors that may require assistance, including agriculture and fisheries, which are vulnerable to rising fuel and production costs.
In addition, DOLE is working with the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to assist repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
These efforts include job matching with available local employment opportunities, referrals to skills training programs through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and access to livelihood support.
As part of the National Reintegration Network, DOLE will also collaborate with the Department of Migrant Workers in the “Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa” program scheduled for April.
The initiative aims to provide a one-stop platform for returning OFWs and their families to access government services and reintegration support.
The department added that monthly job fairs nationwide will be expanded to open up more employment opportunities.
