SSS offers calamity loan for storm-hit members

THE Social Security System (SSS) is offering a calamity loan to members in areas affected by typhoons Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.

The loan is available until December 19.

SSS members could benefit from a loan equivalent to their one-month salary credit or up to P20,000, SSS Officer-in-Charge Voltaire Agas said in a statement emailed to The Manila Times.

«Our country was battered by multiple tropical cyclones in less than a month, making life extremely difficult for our kababayan (countrymen) in devastated areas,» Agas said.

«SSS wants to extend a lending hand to them through this financial assistance to help them rebuild their lives and get back to normal,» he said.

The agency said members in the areas that were declared under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) can also avail of the loan.

Areas under state of calamity due to Kristine are Dagupan, Bani and Anda in Pangasinan; Ilagan and Roxas in Isabela; provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon; Cardona and Binangonan, Rizal; Puerto Galera, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Mansalay, Bulalacao (San Pedro) in Oriental Mindoro; Paluan and Looc in Occidental Mindoro; provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon; Naga City; Cataingan and San Fernando in Masbate; Calbayog, Samar; Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, Masilog, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan and Mayodolong in Eastern Samar; Magnet, Cotabato; Alfonso Lista (Potia), Ifugao; and Quezon City in National Capital Region (NCR).

Quirino and Mountain Province; Santiago and Cabagan in Isabela; Baggao, Cagayan; Dilasag, Aurora; and Aguinaldo, Ifugao were also declared under state of calamity due to Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; including Buguey, Gonzaga, Sanchez-Mira, Aparri, and Claveria in Cagayan were included in the list of declared calamity areas due to Marce.

Members in other areas that may be declared under state of calamity are also eligible.

To qualify, a member must have at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which must be posted within the last 12 months before the month of