Pres Marcos, SSS honor top employers, media partners in BnB Awards

(Photo by Mark Joseph De Castro/PIA-NCR)

MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, Sept. 30, led the awarding of top employers and media partners in ensuring the social security protection of Filipino workers in the country, during the 2022 Balikat ng Bayan (BnB) Awards, as part of the culminating activity for the month-long anniversary celebration of the Social Security System (SSS).

Marcos said the awardees, along with the SSS members, help make the pension fund agency a “force that makes a difference in nation-building and ensures that every Filipino contributor can reap the benefits of their labor well into the future.”

The Chief Executive also lauded the SSS for becoming “a bastion of stability for every Filipino in the private sector.”

“The SSS’ critical role in strengthening our country’s social protection is more crucial, now more than ever. With the country recovering from the pandemic, with the country trying to recover from the shocks that are coming from the geopolitical situation around the world, still I am truly excited to see more ways in which the SSS will bring its services closer to its members and make a positive impact in the communities that you serve,” he said.

Marcos is joined by SSS president and chief executive officer Michael Regino, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, members of the Social Security Commission, and other top officials from government and private institutions, in acknowledging the value of partnerships with other sectors for their unwavering support to the programs of the state insurer.

The Balikat ng Bayan Award for the Top Employer is given to BDO Unionbank Inc. for Large Accounts, and Tahche Outsourcing Services, Inc. for Branch Accounts, who, in a major way, have partnered with the SSS in promoting the welfare of their employees who are members of SSS.

On the other hand, the Best Collection Partner distinction is awarded to Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, a financial institution that is consistently among the top with the highest collections and has the biggest volume of transactions and widest coverage.

While the Best Disbursement Partner is awarded to Philippine National Bank for Commercial Bank, and First Consolidated Bank for Thrift/Rural Bank/Electric Money Transfer Issuer, as thes are exemplary in delivering SSS benefits to members.

Another set of Balikat ng Bayan awards are given to the Best Media Partner for Print: Business Mirror; Broadcast: DYBG 97.1 Ben FM; and Media Personality: Dr. Hilda C. Ong, for their contributions in the SSS’s pursuit to provide meaningful protection to our members.

Special citations are also given to Union Bank of the Philippines, CIS Bayad Center, Inc., Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) Development Bank of the Philippines, and the Daily Guardian as accredited program partner- agents, financial institutions and media partner that are supporting the mission of the SSS.

SSS celebrates its milestone anniversary through a series of month-long activities with the theme, “SSS@65: Kontribusyong Pinag-ipunan, Proteksyong Maaasahan.”

For more details on SSS programs, members can drop by the nearest SSS branch, visit the SSS web site (www.sss.gov.ph), or contact the SSS call center at 920-6446 to 55, which accepts calls from 7 a.m. on Monday all the way to 7 a.m. on Saturday. (PIA-NCR)