Almost 5,000 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 5 (Bicol) will now enjoy the benefits and privilege of being a Social Security System (SSS) member.

In an interview on Monday, Mayflor Marie Jumamil, DepEd-5 spokesperson, said the 4,816 personnel from the regional office and 13 Schools Division Offices (SDOs) will undergo a series of orientations for the KaSSSangga Collect Program of SSS.

“A DepEd staff will be assigned to collectively process the deductions and remittances for the JOs and COS workers. They will not have difficulty paying because DepEd processes and remits the contribution. They will be voluntary members and be collected through salary deductions,” Jumamil said.

She said that as SSS members, the personnel will have access to various benefits such as retirement, disability, maternity, death, sickness, and the provision of loans, among others.

Jumamil also said regular employees who are existing SSS members may also benefit from the program by opting to continue paying their contributions as voluntary members.

“The SSS has already agreed to extend assistance for the continuation of their remittances of their preferred monthly contributions,” she said.

In a statement, DepEd Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said the program is appreciated as it will ensure the provision of benefits to the non-regular employees of DepEd-5.

“We are truly grateful to the SSS for attending to the welfare of our JOs and COS because with this program, they can be enrolled as members and thus can be assured of its benefits that they can harvest even when they leave DepEd,” Sadsad said. (PNA)