The Philippine Social Security Association (PHILSSA) was c rea ted on Ju ly 1 , 1 9 9 6 w h e n

(SSS). Eventually, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was also admitted to form the present group of PHILSSA member institutions.

PHILSSA TODAY

Vision – A Happy Satisfied Workforce Enjoying The Total Social Security Protection of The Philippine Government.

Mission – To Establish A Rational And Well-Coordinated Social Protection Program Which Will Provide All Workers And Their Families With Responsive Benefits, Which They And Their Employers Can Afford And Which Is Doable By Government; To Come Up With Feasible Forms Of Means-Tested Social Protection, Mostly Non-Financial For The Unemployed And The Marginalized Poor;

– To Provide Covered Workers With Assistance / Services That Will Enable Them To Cope With Basic Family Essentials And Improve Their Quality Of Life Prior To Any Work Cessation.

ACTIVITIES

• In 1996, PHILSSA conducted an international seminar entitled “Asia: The Impact of Demography on Social Security” in cooperation with the ISSA, International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Bank, Department of Finance and the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA).

• In 2007, PHILSSA hosted the 20th ASSA Board Meeting and ASSA Seminar.

• PHILSSA will host The Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific to be held in Manila on October 21 to 23. It will provide a unique platform for policy-makers and social security leaders from the region to identify and discuss the main emerging social security developments and trends in Asia and the Pacific.

It will take place in the context of globalization, internal and external migration, the growth of informal

PHILSSA: Working for common interests in social security

institutions performing social security and related functions in the Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Agreement. It was intended to be a venue wherein member-institutions could deliberate and work on matters concerning social security among Filipino workers.

These member institutions were: the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Retirement and Separation Benefits System (AFP-RSBS), the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) (better known as Pag-IBIG Fund), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), and the Social Security System

economies, changes in family structures, and the financial crisis.

The four main themes of the Forum are:

• Social security developments and trends in Asia and the Pacific

• Governance and the social security reform process • The imperatives of health-care coverage • Pension coverage and demographic ageing

This Forum will culminate in a Social Security

Summit, which will aim to promote the important

role of social security in society by showcasing the

contribution of dynamic social security to cope with

current and future socio-economic challenges in

Asia and the Pacific. The Forum will be an important

milestone towards the World Social Security Forum

in South Africa in 2010.

EXECUTIVE BOARD

The newly elected PHILSSA Officials for CY 2009 are:

CHAIRMAN Atty. Winston F. Garcia President and General Manager

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)

VICE CHAIRMAN Dr. Rey B. Aquino President and CEO Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC)

TREASURERMr. Jaime A. FabiañaOfficer-In-ChargeHome Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)

Other members of the PHILSSA Executive Board are:

Ret. B/Gen. Jose C. NanoPresidentAFP Retirement and Separation Benefits System (AFP-RSBS)

Mr. Romulo L. Neri President and CEO Social Security System (SSS)

Ms. Evelyn F. Tablang Officer-In-Charge Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC)

Mr. Sergio O. ValenciaChairmanPhilippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)

4 • MANILA FORUM 5 • MANILA FORUM PHILSSA BEGINNINGS PHILSSA BEGINNINGS

OOn October 21 to 23, 2009,

the Philippines will play host to a gathering of social security policy-makers, administrators, researchers and representatives of regional and international organizations for the “Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and Pacific,” to be held at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City.

Organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and sponsored by the Philippine Social Security Association (PHILSSA), the Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and Pacific takes into account the role of social security amidst the current milieu of globalization, internal and external migration, growth of informal economies, changes in family structures, and the impact of the global financial crisis.

The Opening Ceremonies will be graced by the Philippines’ second highest official, Vice President Noli de Castro, who is also known as the “Housing Czar” being the chairman of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF). Delegates will be welcomed by PHILSSA Chairman Winston F. Garcia, who is the president and general manager

of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and by ISSA President Corazon S. de la Paz-Bernardo, also the former president of SSS.

According to Forum Coordinator and Social Security System (SSS) Vice President May Catherine Ciriaco, there are four main themes that will be tackled in the three-day event: social security developments and trends in the Asia and Pacific; governance and social security reform processes; the imperatives of healthcare coverage; and pension coverage and demographic aging.

ISSA Secretary General Hans-Horst Konkolewsky of Geneva will deliver the keynote address on social security developments and trends in Asia and the Pacific, while Ms. Yvonne Sin, Head of Investment Consulting of Watson Wyatt-Hong Kong, will give the keynote address on governance and the social security reform process. The topic on the imperatives of health care services will be handled by Professor Soonman Kwon of the Seoul National University of South Korea, while Professor Christian Aspalter of the Beijing Normal University of China will deliver the keynote address on pension coverage and demographic ageing.

“The Forum will end with a high-level Social Security Summit, which will showcase the recent advances in social security that were achieved through new ideas, innovations, and effective strategies,” Ciriaco said. “The ISSA Good Practice Awards for Asia and the Pacific will also be handed out to outstanding organizations for their exemplary practices in the administration of social security. The winning good practices will be featured at the World Social Security Forum in Cape Town, South Africa in 2010,” she added.

Over 200 delegates from Asia and Pacific countries are expected to attend the Forum. Aside from technical sessions, there will also be fellowship events, cocktails, and guided tours of Makati City hotspots for the foreign participants.

The member institutions of PHILSSA, who are hosting the Forum, include the SSS, GSIS, HDMF, Employees’ Compensation Commission, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separation Benefits System, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The Philippines welcomes social security experts for Regional Forum for Asia and the PacificSecretary General Konkolewsky delivers the keynote address

6 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT THE FORUM

Taking care of our Protectors

ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES - RETIREMENT, SEPARATION AND BENEFITS SYSTEM

TThe Armed Forces of the Philippines Retirement,

Separation and Benefits System was established by virtue of Presidential Decree 361 as amended by P.D. 1656 to provide retirement and separation benefits to military members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

As provided in the law, “officers and enlisted personnel in the active service of the AFP shall contribute monthly to the System an amount equivalent to five percent (5%) of their monthly base pay, which contribution shall be deducted from their pay by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and paid to the System: Provided, That any officer or enlisted

personnel who is separated or retired shall upon his separation or retirement be refunded in one lump sum all his contributions to the System: Provided, further, That such contributions shall be tax deductible for purposes of individual income tax return.”

Retired Brigadier General Jose V. Nano is the current President of the AFP-RSBS.

AFP-RSBS Address: Capinpin Avenue, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines

8 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT AFP-RSBS

Protecting Workers’ Interest and Welfare

TThe Employees’ Compensation Commission

(ECC) is a government corporation attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for policy and program coordination. It is a quasi-judicial entity created to implement the Employees’ Compensation Program.

The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) was created on November 1, 1974 by virtue of PD 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines. It become fully operational with the issuance of PD 626, as amended which took effect on January 1, 1975.

The Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP) was designed to provide workers and their families with income benefits in the event of work-connected sickness, injury or death. These benefits are in addition to whatever the employees are entitled to under the other social protection programs like the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS) and the Philippine Health Insurance System (PhilHealth).

The ECP covers only the formal sector workers,

specifically the paying members of the SSS and the GSIS as well as the members of the PNP, AFP and the BJMP. It applies only to workers with employer-employee relationship.

The ECP is being implemented by the Social Security System (SSS) for the private sector and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the public sector.

The basic functions of the Employees’

Compensation Commission are the following:

• Appealed Claims Disposition commits to expeditiously resolve appealed cases from the GSIS and the SSS by providing adequate income, medical and related benefits to employees; and their dependents in the event of work-connected disability or death.

• Policy Formulation provides comprehensive and in-depth review of existing policies for the purpose of updating, amending and formulating new policies to ensure effective implementation of the EC Program.

• Employees’ Compensation Advocacy focuses on the preventive, rehabilitative, and compensatory aspects of the program for the purpose of informing the workers and their dependents of their rights, benefits and privileges under the Employees’ Compensation Program.

Through the years, the ECC has expediently addressed major issues through relevant programs and projects with the end in view of improving the employees’ compensation program’s implementation.

Some of these are the following:

• ECC-QRT Program aims to provide victims or beneficiaries of work-related contingencies with assistance so that they may be able to cope with the untimely death of a love one and to lighten the burden of sudden financial incapacity by facilitating the prompt release of EC benefits.

• KaGabay Program (Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan) is a special economic assistance program initiated by the ECC in 2002 for Occupationally-Disabled Workers (ODWs) who lost employment by reason of work-related sickness or injury. It facilitates the ODWs reintegration into the economic mainstream through physical restoration, vocational skills training for possible re-employment and entrepreneurial training for small or home-based business.

• The Public Assistance Program (PAC) which started operating on June 20, 2003. It aims to maximize and facilitate the agency’s responsibility of providing immediate information on the ECP thru telephone and personal advice.

• The State Insurance Fund (SIF) Monitoring Program aims to continuously monitor the status of the SIF and do an in-depth analysis of the disbursements of the GSIS and the SSS to meet the compensatory requirements of victims of work-related sickness, injury or death. Its goal is to sustain the viability of the SIF so it can serve its purpose for all time.

EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION

In June 2009, the employees’ compensation program granted benefits worth Php549.203 million for 135,198 private sector workers while Php31.75 million was provided to 7,616 government employees with work-connected sickness, injuries or death. Since 1975, a total of Php28.863 billion EC benefits were granted to 3,851,742 private and government employees.

Ms. Evelyn F. Tablang is the Executive Director of the ECC at present.

URL: http://www.ecc.gov.ph Address: ECC Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati CityTel. : (632) 899-4251

“Through the years, the ECC has expediently addressed major issues

through relevant programs and projects with the end in view of improving the employees’ compensation program’s

implementation.”

ECC-QRT member Dianne Bautista explains to Seaman Jojit Pungo the documentary requirements in filing an EC claim at the Government Service Insurance System. Seaman First Class Pungo was one of the two coastguardsmen who sustained bone fractures during the Philippine-Japan anti-piracy drill on July 9, 2009.

Dr. Dante Nacpil, DepEd Medical Officer of Quezon City, stresses the advantage of using fixed dosed combination treatment for suspected TB cases during the Conference Towards Improved TB Program Implementation Among Public School Teachers held on September 23, 2009 at ECC-Multi– purpose Hall.

10 • MANILA FORUM 11 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT ECC ABOUT ECC

The ECC-QRT introduce the ECC Reporter to Lydio Felizarta, training officer and coordinator of Sulpicio Lines, Inc. Felizarta promised to assist the ECC-QRT by providing the list of crew members of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars and names and addresses of their next of kin to enable ECC to reach potential beneficiaries of the EC program.

Ensuring the Primacy of Government Employees

GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM

TMANDATE

The GSIS is created by Commonwealth Act No. 186 that was passed on November 14, 1936. As a pension fund, the GSIS is mandated to provide and administer the following social security benefits for all employees of the Philippine government: compulsory life insurance, optional life insurance, retirement benefits, disability benefits for work-related contingencies and death benefits.

In addition, the GSIS is entrusted with the administration of the General Insurance Fund by virtue of R.A. 656 of the Property Insurance Law. It provides insurance coverage to assets and properties that have government insurable interests.

COVERAGE The GSIS covers all government workers

irrespective of their employment status, except: • Members of the Judiciary and Constitutional Com-

missions who are covered by separated retirement laws

• Contractual employees who have no employee-employer relationship with their agencies

• Uniformed members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, including the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection

BENEFITS AND SERVICESThe principal benefit package of the GSIS consists

of compulsory and optional life insurance, retirement, separation and employee’s compensation benefits.

SERVICE PRIVILEGESActive GSIS members are entitled to the following

loan privileges: salary, policy, emergency and housing loans, subject to the cross-default policy of the System (CLIP).

ORGANIZATION The governing and policy-making body of the GSIS

is the Board of Trustees, the members of which are appointed by the President of the Philippines.

The GSIS workforce consists of 3,104 employees, 52% of whom are in the Head Office while the remaining 48% are in the Branches. To date, the GSIS has 15 Regional Offices, 25 Branch Offices and 18 Satellite Offices nationwide.

GSIS President and General Manager Winston F. Garcia

URL: http://www.gsis.gov.phAddress: Financial Center, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.Tel. : Trunkline (632) 891-6161

12 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT GSIS

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND

Making the Dream of Home Ownershipa Reality

TThe birth of the Home Development Mutual

Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, was an answer to the need for a national savings program and an affordable shelter financing for the Filipino worker. The Fund was established on 11 June 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1530 primarily to address these two basic yet equally important needs. Under the said law, there were two agencies that administered the Fund. The Social Security System handled the funds of private sector employees, while the Government Service Insurance System handled the savings of government workers.

Less than a year after on 1 March 1979, Executive Order No. 527 was signed. The order directed transferring the administration of the Fund to the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, which was one of the operating agencies of the then Ministry of Human Settlements.

Seeing the need to further strengthen the stability and viability of the two funds, Executive Order No. 538 was issued on 4 June 1979, merging the funds for private and government personnel into what is now known as the Pag-IBIG Fund. However, It was only on 14 December 1980 when Pag-IBIG was made independent from the NHMFC with the signing of PD 1752, which amended PD 1530. With the improved law in effect, the Fund’s rule-making power was vested in its own Board of Trustees. Likewise, PD 1752 made Pag-IBIG membership mandatory for all SSS and GSIS member-employees.

A new Administration, some changes in Pag-IBIG

Months after former President Corazon C. Aquino assumed leadership of the country, Pag-IBIG contributions were suspended from May to July 1986. This gave way to the Presidential Task Force on Shelter to conduct a thorough review of the Fund and

its operations. The task force later affirmed that “Pag-IBIG Fund was run professionally and that there were no anomalies in the Fund”. On 1 August 1986, former President Aquino directed the resumption of Pag-IBIG membership under Executive Order No. 35. Membership was still on a mandatory basis but under more liberal terms. For one, contribution rate was reduced from three percent to one percent for employees earning over Php1,500. Employer share was likewise cut from three percent to a fixed rate of two percent. The Maximum Fund Salary was raised from Php3,000 to Php5,000.

1 January 1987 marked the return of the Pag-IBIG Fund to a voluntary program under Executive Order No. 90. While many companies chose to discontinue their Pag-IBIG membership, quite a number, including big companies like PLDT and Dole Philippines, nevertheless opted to retain their membership to the Fund despite the voluntary nature of registration.

Facing challenges head on

Confronted with the sudden reduction in its membership base, the Pag-IBIG Fund stood unfazed and took the challenges head on. Initially, the Fund implemented an intensified marketing campaign that focused on membership retention and generation.

It was during the years as a voluntary fund that Pag-IBIG evolved from an institution primarily for savings and housing into an agency with a wider reach that covers almost all other needs.

The Pag-IBIG Fund introduced innovative benefit programs that heeded the calls for expansion of membership to include self-employed groups with informal income, the overseas Filipino workers, and non-earning spouses. It also launched other novel programs such as the Multi-Purpose Loan for its short-term loans program, and shelter programs like the Corporate Housing

Program, Direct Home Lending Program, Social Housing Developmental Loan Program, Joint Venture Program, Group Land Acquisition and Development Program, Pag-IBIG Cities, LGU-Pabahay Housing Program, and the Direct Developmental Loan Program Fund.

Clearly, the voluntary nature of Pag-IBIG membership did not stop the Fund from growing in depth and breadth. During the period, the Pag-IBIG Fund has claimed its rightful place in the country’s economic and financial system, finally gaining the acceptance of its members, not by force, but by its continuing efforts to impress upon the members that the Fund exists solely for their benefit as well as their beneficiaries.

After eight years as a voluntary fund, the nature of Pag-IBIG membership reverted to mandatory on 17 June 1994 when President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 7742. The new law became effective on 1 January 1995.

Today, more than a decade after the universal Pag-IBIG coverage law was implemented, the Pag-IBIG Fund continues to be a strong partner in realizing Filipino workers’ dreams. Over the years, it initiated more programs and projects, particularly those that address the needs of members belonging to the bottom economic level. The Fund has established special housing partnerships with teachers and uniformed men, among others. The Rent-to-Own Program was introduced, providing members another affordable way of homeownership.

The Fund’s efforts towards housing the Filipino did not go unnoticed. During the World Habitat Day celebration in October 2006, Pag-IBIG was given the prestigious Scroll of Honour Awards by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) for “making the dream of affordable housing a reality for hundreds of thousands of households.” Pag-IBIG is the first Philippine government agency to be awarded such recognition.

The Fund likewise strengthened its partnership with accredited developers by way of its various institutional lending programs, among which is the much-sought after program for the development of medium and high-rise condominium buildings. The program provides a ready inventory of condominium units for sale at affordable

prices, and allows members to experience condominium style living in areas close to their places of work.

In recent years, the Fund has embarked on its successful bid in the financial market, moving a step closer to its vision of becoming a premier and globally competitive provident financial institution. In 2001, the Fund floated Php2 billion-worth of Pag-IBIG Housing Bonds to generate additional funds for its shelter financing programs, which was warmly received by both institutional and individual investors. The bonds matured in late 2006.

Pag-IBIG is an acronym which stands for Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at Gobyerno. To this day, the Pag-IBIG Fund continues to harness these four sectors of the society to work together towards providing Fund members with adequate housing through an effective savings scheme.

Hon. Vice-President Noli De CastroCHAIRMANHousing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)

Hon. Jaime A. FabianaPresident and CEO Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF)

URL: http://www.pagibigfund.gov.phAddress: Atrium of Makati, Makati Avenue, Makati CityTel.: Trunklines: (632)811-4401 to 27 connecting all departments Call Center: (632) 724-4244

“Today, more than a decade after the universal Pag-IBIG

coverage law was implemented, the Pag-IBIG Fund continues to be a strong partner in realizing

Filipino workers’ dreams.”

14 • MANILA FORUM 15 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT HDMF ABOUT HDMF

Better and More ResponsiveHealth Care for All

PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION

THISTORY

The call to serve the rural indigents echoed since the early ‘60s when the Philippine Medical Association introduced the MARIA Project which prioritized aid to communities in need of medical assistance. The Project would then be considered a valuable precursor to the Medicare program, from which a medical care plan for the entire Philippines was created. On August 4, 1969, Republic Act 6111 or the Philippine Medical Care Act of 1969 was signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos which was eventually implemented in August 1971.

The Philippine Medical Care Commission (PMCC) was tasked to oversee the implementation of the program which went for almost a quarter of a century.

In the 1990s, a vision for a better, more responsive government health care program was prompted by the passage of several bills that had significant implications on health financing. The public’s clamor for a health insurance that is more comprehensive in terms of covered population and benefits led to the development of House Bill 14225 and Senate Bill 01738 which became “The National Health Insurance Act of 1995” or Republic Act 7875, signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on February 14, 1995. The law paved the way for the creation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), mandated to provide social health insurance coverage to all Filipinos in 15 years’ time.

PhilHealth assumed the responsibility of administering the former Medicare program for government and private sector employees from the Government Service Insurance System in October 1997, from the Social Security System in April 1998, and from the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration in March 2005.

CORPORATE PROFILE

VisionA premier government corporation that ensures

sustainable, affordable and progressive social health insurance which endeavors to influence the delivery of accessible quality health care for all Filipinos.

Mission

As a financial intermediary, PhilHealth shall continuously evolve a sustainable National Health Insurance Program that shall:

• Lead towards universal coverage • Ensure better benefits for its members at

affordable premiums; • Establish close coordination with its clients

through a strong partnership with all stakeholders; and,

• Provide effective internal information and management systems to influence the delivery of quality health care services.

Core Values

People and PartnershipThe alliance we have made are the wheels of our

program. Our members are at the core of our operations and it is our duty to serve the public.

HarmonyTeam PhilHealth moves as one, otherwise, we could

not have reached nor surpassed our goals.

InnovationWe support new and bright ideas to improve our

operations, and apply the Balanced Scorecards into how we carry out our tasks.

LeadershipThe entire PhilHealth organization leads and drives

the health system reforms in the country.

Honor, Accountability and TransparencyWe are the custodians of public coffers and we owe

it to the people to keep the program afloat for future generations.

Excellence and Lifetime LearningWe do not just meet targets; we surpass them because

we are movers and shapers. We are the few who make things happen but we continue to learn new things.

Health for AllWe aim for universal coverage. Right now, we cover

eight out of every ten Filipinos, and we aspire to sustain this coverage in the long-term.

Dr. Rey B. Aquino is the President and CEO of Philhealth.

URL: http://www.philhealth.gov.phAddress: Citystate Centre, 709 Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City 1603, PhilippinesTel.: Trunkline: (632) 637-9999

17 • MANILA FORUM 16 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT PHIC ABOUT PHIC

Going Beyond Charity andSocial Welfare

PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES OFFICE

TThe Philippine Charity

Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) is the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.

The PCSO holds and conducts charity sweepstakes, races, and lotteries and engages in health and welfare-related investments, projects, and activities to provide for permanent and continuing sources of funds for its programs. It also undertakes other activities to enhance and expand such fund-generating operations as well as strengthen the agency’s fund-management capabilities.

The main products of the PCSO are the sweepstakes and the lottery games. The Sweepstakes game has steadily been evolving through the years to be able to conform with the changing times, to keep the game interesting to all Sweepstakes enthusiasts and to hopefully attract more clients, and to maintain a variety of Sweepstakes products readily available in the market. Various game types have been introduced and other game innovations are constantly being conceptualized, particularly of the traditional and scratch and match variety.

PCSO CharityPCSO’s primary mandate is to

provide funds in order to sustain free medical and health services to the poorest of the poor, and to augment the current resources of various institutions and organizations providing health services to the general public. This is carried out through a variety of programs:

• Mandatory Contributions The PCSO is mandated by

virtue of a special law to contribute funds for the following government entities: the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter and Urban Development Financing Program, the Philippine Centennial Commission, the National Commission on Indigenous People, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

The PCSO allocates to local government units a five percent (5%) share from the total sales of on-line lottery (lotto) outlets operating within their jurisdictions, including a documentary stamp tax from the said donation.

• Individual Medical Assistance Program

Under this program, medical assistance is given to individual patients through the issuance of guarantee letters to hospitals

where the patients are confined. A guarantee letter is a certification issued to hospitals for a particular charity patient under the PCSO medical assistance program where the agency assumes the obligation of settling the cost of hospitalization, including the medicines, medical, surgical or blood supplies, and diagnostic procedures.

Objectives •General : Restoration

of social functioning (Physical recovery) through medical assistance

• Specific : Provide assistance for hospitalization expenses, laboratory procedures and purchase of medicines, chemo drugs, dialysis solutions, antibiotics, implants, devices and other medical needs.

• Endowment Fund Program

This program allocates funding assistance to government and private hospitals assistance to indigent patients in need of medical care, medicines, drugs, medical and surgical supplies, and diagnostic procedures for the management and treatment of various illnesses.

Objectives •General : To grant fund to

hospitals and other health facilities making health or medical services accessible to PCSO-authorized indigent patients

•Specific : Enable charity patients access to medicines,

drugs, medical supplies, implants, blood, diagnostic and laboratory procedures

• Beneficiaries Institutional AssistanceThe PCSO supports orphanages

and other charitable institutions which take care of providing welfare services to the disadvantaged sector -- the children and youth who are either abandoned or exploited, those who have experienced varied forms of abuse, the elderly and the physically and mentally handicapped, among others.

• Upgrading of Medical Facilities

The PCSO consistently contributes to the upgrading of health care facilities by providing financial assistance for the purchase of medical and surgical supplies, medical equipments and the construction and renovation of devolved and retained hospitals, municipal health centers, day care centers and private institutions implementing welfare programs nationwide.

• Medicine Donation The PCSO consistently

contributes to the upgrading of health care facilities by providing financial assistance for the purchase of medical and surgical supplies, medical equipments and the construction and renovation of devolved and retained hospitals, municipal health centers, day care centers and private institutions implementing welfare programs nationwide.

• Medical Equipment Donation

The PCSO consistently

contributes to the upgrading of health care facilities by providing financial assistance for the purchase of medical and surgical supplies, medical equipments and the construction and renovation of devolved and retained hospitals, municipal health centers, day care centers and private institutions implementing welfare programs nationwide.

• Outreach Programs The PCSO’s community

outreach programs involve the conduct of free medical ad dental missions in depressed areas within ad outside of Metro Manila. Under this program, the PCSO also gives to out patients free consultations and medicines. It undoubtedly is one of the most effective means of pursuing the agency’s commitment to the Filipino people is charity through free medical and dental services. Initially serving its officials and employees, referrals and walk-ins, the PCSO Charity Clinic’s services have now expanded to include depressed barangays in Metro Manila to as far as Sorsogon in the South and Isabela in the North.

The Out-Patient Clinic Department of the PCSO renders services from Monday to Friday to thousands of indigent patients at the PCSO Complex in Quezon City. Said clinic offers the following services: free consultations from resident doctors and specialists, minor surgeries, ambulance conduction of patients and emergency care as well as referrals. It also undertakes community outreach projects on maternal and child health and primary health care.

• Special Programs The PCSO also allocates and

donates to local government units a 5 percent share from the total sales of on-line lottery (lotto) outlets operating within their jurisdictions, including of the documentary stamp tax for the said donation.

PCSO-Philhealth Greater Medicare Access (GMA) Program

• This program is a joint undertaking of the three most important health-financing agencies of the government, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and local government units (LGU). At the outset, the PCSO GMA Program is aimed at assisting the enrollment of 539,670 indigent families in PhilHealth’s Medicare para sa Masa program. For the initial implementation of the program, the PCSO has allocated some P67 million as its counterpart funding for the LGU share.

Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) Program

• As a government sector agency-member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), under the Basic Services for Human Development cluster, the PCSO has, as its contribution to the Poverty Alleviation Program of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, donated medicines and provided financial assistance, conducted medical and dental missions, and provided tetra-pack milk during the Milk Feeding Programs in various KALAHI communities nationwide.

Gamot na Mabisa at Abot-kaya (GMA 50) Project

• As their response to the commitment made by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her

18 • MANILA FORUM 19 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT PCSO ABOUT PCSO

2001 State of the Nation Address to make medicines more affordable to the general masses, the PCSO, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), and the National Food Authority (NFA), have come together to jointly implement the government’s low-cost medicine program dubbed as “Gamot na Mabisa at Abot-Kaya (GMA 50) Project”.

Center for Health Improvement and Life Development (C.H.I.L.D.) House Project

• The Center for Life Improvement and Health Development (C.H.I.L.D) House Project for children and young adults who are afflicted with cancer and/or other dreaded diseases, is a multifaceted health and social development undertaking of the Ricky Reyes Foundation, an NGO, PCSO, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC), Philippine Tuberculosis Society-Quezon Institute (PTS-QI), and various specialty hospitals and medical facilities, with the goal of “lessening the burden of the immediate families of people with cancer and/or other dreaded disease/s, by knowing that there is a place where they can temporarily stay while their loved one is undergoing treatment.” An oversight committee led by Presidential Daughter Ms. Luli Macapagal Arroyo as chairman, was formed to administer the period.

PCSO Emergency Center Project • This project is aimed at establishing “emergency

centers” at select provincial hospitals in strategic areas nationwide. A joint project of PCSO and DOH which aims set up emergency service facilities in 10 strategically located hospital-beneficiaries nationwide.

PCSO-NHA Kapalaran Housing Program • The PCSO, in accordance with the National

Housing Authority, allots funding for socialized housing projects for poor families in various areas nationwide, as mandated under Republic Act No. 7835, also known as the “Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Financing Act of 1994” (CISFA).

Since its inception in 1934, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has lived up to the challenge of its mandated mission and purpose and has remained unwavering in carrying out its vision of uplifting the quality of life of the Filipino people. The agency has well

established itself as a model government institution with its unquestioned dedication to serve the disadvantaged sectors of society. With these, the PCSO has developed a strong credence and incontestable acceptance from Filipinos who have all come to believe and get comfort on the fact that the PCSO will always be there for them, as long as needs need to be satisfied and hopes and dreams need to be given life and fulfillment.

Vision And Mission

Our VisionTo uplift the quality of life of the Filipino people.

Our MissionTo be a model government agency in carrying

out its responsibility to provide medical and health services to the disadvantaged sectors of society through a professional workforce with integrity, competence, a deep sense of accountability and transparency in all its official transactions.

Five Vision PillarsThe Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,

Mandated by RA 1169, as amended, commits five pillars to realize its Vision-Mission:

• Professional workforce with integrity, competence and a deep sense of accountability and transparency in all its official transactions;

• Timely adequate services • Increased number of satisfied beneficiaries with

improved health and other social conditions; • Effective, efficient and self-reliant organization with

strong operating system and infrastructure; and, • Good corporate image

The current PCSO Chairman isMr. Sergio O. Valencia

URL: http://www.pcso.gov.phAddress: E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City Tel.: Trunkline : (632) 781-9701

20 • MANILA FORUM ABOUT PCSO

and perfect a sound and viable tax-exempt social security system suitable to the needs of the people throughout the Philippines, which shall promote social justice and provide meaningful protection to members and their families against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old-age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to extend social security to workers and their beneficiaries.” (Section 2, Republic Act 8282 – Social Security Act of 1997)

STATEMENT OF VISION“The SSS aims to develop and promote a viable,

universal and equitable social security protection scheme through world-class service.”

CORPORATE VALUES“The SSS aims to institutionalize a corporate culture

that instills the core values of Trust, Empowerment and Teamwork.”

Mr. Romulo L. Neri is the SSS President and CEO.

URL: http://www.sss.gov.phAddress: East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, PhilippinesTel: Trunkline: (632) 920-6401Tel. Assistance: (632) 920-6446 - 55

Social Security Protection for Filipinos Everywhere

SSSS @ 52: SOCIAL SECURITY, STRENGTH AND STABILITY

Since its inception, the SSS has been a dependable partner of the Filipino worker and his family. Directly, it has provided financial support to its members in their times of need. Indirectly, its investments have helped invigorate the Philippine economy. Through the decades, as its coverage expanded and its programs developed and sustained, the SSS evolved into an organization capable of servicing its members nationwide and in key cities overseas.

The SSS serves as more than a pension fund for private sector workers. It has developed a three-pronged role in society. First, the SSS is an instrument for social justice, which, through pensions and benefit grants, provides a safety net for members and protecting them against poverty and financial desperation. Second, it is a vehicle for income redistribution, wherein contributions from younger, healthier, and higher income members subsidize the benefits for the older, the infirm, and members of lower income, respectively. Finally, the SSS serves as a catalyst for economic growth, as our investment operations and

loan programs assist in capital market and infrastructure development, as well as provide economic opportunities to members for livelihood, housing, and other financial needs.

In the past years, the institution faced many obstacles that tested its resilience and strengthened its foundation. Through far-ranging internal reforms and program enhancements, the SSS emerged stronger and more stable,

with its improved actuarial fund life, and steadily increasing assets and fund reserves. Today, it again faces a daunting challenge: a global financial crisis that has rocked the economies of both developed and emerging nations.

Despite this, however, the SSS is still optimistic that like in the past, it can weather this storm. With its proven institutional and human resource capabilities, as well as solid financial core, the SSS will prove to be a bastion of calm and dependability that members can rely on.

PERFORMANCE POISED FOR CONTINUOUS GROWTH

For four years in a row, the SSS attained a surplus in its operations, as contribution collections exceeded benefit payments. Thus far in 2009, it is apparent that the institution will achieve a similar positive net growth. Benefit disbursements have likewise increased – a tangible manifestation of members’ increasing reliance on SSS as a viable safety net against economic and social risks. In terms of investments, the SSS was able to book substantial profits from the sale of key equities in 2008, and its conservative posture with regards to foreign investments has allowed the fund to escape largely unscathed from the global stock meltdown. Moreover, its amnesty program for delinquent housing and short-term member loans, which has been running since 2006, has allowed the SSS to clean its books of delinquent accounts, while generating the needed cash flow to support benefit payments and operating expenses. Finally, the SSS has managed to keep its operating expenses at manageable levels without compromising operational capabilities.

As of end of June 2009:

Cumulative Assets: Php254.06 BillionCumulative Benefits Php640 BillionCumulative Contributions Php567.7 BillionMembership: 28 Million

MISSION/DECLARATION OF POLICY“It is the policy of the State to establish, develop, promote

SSS responds to crisisSSS releases P100M for typhoon aid The Social Security System (SSS) contributed P100 million to national outpouring of help to hundreds of thousands of people who lost loved ones, homes and belongings when rampaging floodwaters spawned by a storm surged through Metro Manila and other provinces last weekend, a senior official said today. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said P60 million will be released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which is spearheading relief and rehabilitation work; P30 million to the Office of the President and P5 million each to labor and employer groups for similar purpose.

“We support efforts of both government and private sectors in helping people affected by Tropical Storm Ondoy,” Neri said. “Many of them are SSS members.”

In addition to the donation, SSS also offered early salary loan renewals and lowered the interest rate of its loan for home repair to help members cope with the effects of the disaster.

The donation and eased down loan requirements were approved by the Social Security Commission, the SSS governing board, which represent government, labor and management sectors. The board also donated P50 million when Typhoon Frank triggered floods and mud slips in central and southern Philippines last year.

Neri said the recurring destruction to crops, property and public infrastructure, which run into billions of pesos, calls for new measures in dealing with floods triggered by typhoons.

“The SSS is willing to support any initiative, discussions and studies on flood mitigation and control,” Neri said.

SSS-FFW conducts relief operations and medical mission in Hagonoy, Taguig

Social Security System (SSS) and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) officers and volunteers visited residents of Hagonoy, Taguig who were affected by the recent disaster brought by typhoon “Ondoy” on October 10, 2009.

Social Security Commissioner Sonny G. Matula, an AFP Reservist and Vice President of the FFW (rightmost) led in the distribution of relief goods donated by SSS. With them are (L-R) SSS Vice President for Management Services Division May Ciriaco, Employees’ Union-TSPIC President Sonia Balgos, SSS Vice President for Public Affairs and Special Events Division Susie Bugante, FFW National President Atty. Allan Montaño and AFP Reservist and SSS Kabalikat Volunteer Corps President Arnold Tolentino.

Aside from the giving out of grocery items, SSS also offered medical services, free optical checkups and consultations as well as free haircuts.

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TIDBITS & TRIVIA

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