(UPDATE) THE Social Security System (SSS) partnered with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) as part of its commitment to ensure faster and more responsive public service.
SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph de Claro said ARTA, under the leadership of Secretary Ernesto Perez, has continuously pushed for reforms in government service delivery.
“On our end, the SSS remains committed to developing programs that are more responsive, practical and relevant to the everyday realities of the Filipino people,” de Claro said on ARTA’s eighth anniversary.
The SSS chief in a statement emailed to The Manila Times stressed that SSS continued to strengthen frontline services, simplify processes and modernize systems to better respond to member concerns, in line with the shared goal of improving government service delivery for Filipinos.
As one of the country’s largest public service institutions, de Claro said the SSS recognized that every transaction affected the daily lives of our members.
“We continue to improve our systems, processes and frontline services because faster and more responsive government service is not only an operational goal, but a public responsibility,” de Claro said.
“The agency’s strong financial performance in 2025 has strengthened its capacity to expand member assistance programs and accelerate reforms aimed at improving service delivery,” de Claro added.
In 2025, SSS posted a net income of P142.97 billion while its Reserve Fund surpassed the P1-trillion mark for the first time in the institution’s history, a major milestone that further strengthens the long-term stability of the pension fund for current and future members.
“Its strong financial position allows it to invest directly in better services, new technologies, infrastructure upgrades and programs that will improve the experience of its members,” according to the top SSS official.
De Claro likewise highlighted the agency’s expanded relief programs designed to help Filipino workers and families cope with the continuing impact of the national energy emergency.
Moreover, de Claro said SSS was also preparing to roll out the Energy Sustainability Loan Program in September.
The program allows qualified SSS members with a Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) account to avail themselves of financing to install residential solar panel systems, payable for up to seven years, the SSS chief executive said.
The MPF is a compulsory retirement savings scheme that automatically enrolls SSS members who are contributing to the regular SSS program with a monthly salary credit above P20,000, he said.
Furthermore, the SSS head revealed that the agency aimed to support at least 100,000 homes by 2028 through the program, which seeks to help families manage rising electricity costs while promoting long-term energy sustainability.
The initiative reflects the evolving role of SSS in responding not only to traditional social security concerns, but also to emerging economic pressures affecting Filipino households, de Claro said.
