QUEZON CITY – The Social Security System (SSS) conferred to Baguio-based Herald Express the 2023 Balikat ng Bayan Award for being its Best Media Partner Print Category during the awarding rites held recently at the Ramon Magsaysay Hall, SSS Complex, Diliman.
Herald Express, a weekly publication circulating in the Cordillera and some parts of Northern Luzon, was the first local publication in the north to be conferred the prestigious award.
Finance Secretary and Chairperson of the Social Security Council Benjamin Diokno, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Civil Service Commission Chairperson Carlo Alexi B. Nograles, SSS president and chief executive officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet and other SSS executives handed over the award to representative s of the publication during the said awarding ceremony.
Herald Express had been providing SSS with a free weekly column since 2016 that paved the way for the State insurance corporation to disseminate its programs and services to pensioners and members alike.
Earlier, the SSS lauded its top partners who provided social security protection to Filipino workers in the private sector and informal economy during the Balikat ng Bayan awarding rites.
SSS paid tribute to seven banks, three media partners, three local government units, two employers, a cooperative and a vendors association.
“We want to give recognition to their significant and valuable contributions in helping SSS fulfill its mandate to its members and pensioners. This is also our way of extending our gratitude to these institutions by honoring them through this prestigious ceremony,” Macasaet stressed.
Concentrix CVG Philippines, Inc., a provider of customer experience solutions and technology, won the Top Employer Ward for the Large Accounts Category while CommScope Technologies Philippines, a communications technology company, received the Top Employer Award under the Branch Accounts Category. The Top Employer awardees were chosen based on their 100 percent compliance with their obligations under the Social Security Act of 2018, such as reporting to SSS their employees within 30 days from the start of their employment, monthly regular remittance of SSS contributions as well as their on-time and online submission of quarterly collection list and registration via contributions and loan payments. The winners were also covered by the SSS no later than 2015, submitting their collection list online and registering on My.SSS.
Further, three local banks were named Best Collection Partners: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) for the Universal Bank Category, Bank One Savings Corporation for the Thrift Bank Category and Philippine National Bank (PNB) for the Overseas Bank Category. The said banks topped their respective categories regarding efficient collection schemes for contributions and salary loan payments.
For Best Disbursement Partners, PNB won in the Best Universal Bank Category, Philippine Savings Bank earned the same in the Best Thrift Bank Category, Banco de Oro (BDO) Network Bank, Inc. won in the Best Rural Bank Category and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) DiskarTech won in the Best Digital Bank Category. The said banks were ranked in terms of serving SSS pensioners and members through the timely disbursement of benefits and monthly pensions.
Aside from Herald Express, the other media partner recognized by the SSS for helping share its programs and services among its members and stakeholders for the past year is Senior Reporter Angela dela Cruz of Pilipino Star Ngayon for being the Best Media Partner for the Media Personality Category Through her published news articles, she had greatly contributed in providing free media mileage to promote various SSS programs and services, especially the weekly media coverage of the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operations in the National Capital Region (NCR).
For Best Accredited Partner Agents, SSS named SEDP Sa Pag-Asenso, Inc. as the Best Cooperative while Iligan City received the best local government unit and Castillejos Public Market Vendors Association as Best AlkanSSSya Program Partner. The said accredited partner agents were selected for their active participation in SSS programs that helped the pension fund expand its coverage and extend its services to the majority of its members.
SSS also gave special citations for People’s Television Network, Inc., the government flagship television station, for the media partner category, Land Bank of the Philippines, one of the country’s top banks, for the Collection and Disbursement Category, the cities of Taguig and Mandaluyong for local government unit category to recognize their invaluable support to SSS.
The annual SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awards acknowledged the valuable contributions of individuals and organizations in helping SSS deliver quality services and programs to its members here and abroad.
