THE Social Security System (SSS) membership, including overseas Filipino workers, increased by 11.5 percent in the past four years to 32.1 million in 2014 from 28.8 million in 2010.
Data showed that employed members increased by 18.1 percent in the past four years to 23.5 million in 2014 from 19.9 million in 2010.
OFWs registered the largest increase at 42.9 percent to one million from around 700,000. There was also a significant increase among voluntary members at 37.5 percent to 3.3 million from 2.4 million.
However, self-employed members dropped by 23.2 percent to 4.3 million in 2014 from 5.6 million in 2010.
Marissu G. Bugante, SSS vice president for public affairs, said during a press briefing at Grand Men Seng Hotel on Monday night that the increase in SSS membership shows that more and more Filipinos are getting proper jobs brought by the recent economic growth in the country.
In order to address the increasing number of members, SSS is set to open five new branches and another five service offices within this year.
However, Bugante said she still does not have the information as to where these branches and service office will be set up.
Recently, they opened their SSS Ilustre Branch at Giasano Grand Mall, which offers all of the SSS services except for their e-center.
For 2014, Bugante said they have opened a total of 25 branches, 13 service offices, and three foreign representatives in Muscat, Oman; Tokyo, Japan; and Toronto, Canada.
She said they will continue to open branches if needed to ensure that the service is fast and the turnover is efficient.
At the end of 2014, the agency already has 283 branches nationwide and around the globe, they have 60 in the National Capital Region, 118 in Luzon, 41 in the Visayas, 43 in Mindanao, and 21 foreign representatives.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on February 25, 2015.
