DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A regional campaign by the Social Security System (SSS) that would eradicate illegal practices of business establishments was conducted here on Monday, July 16.
The Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) program aims to instill compliance among delinquent employers who are responsible for non-remittance of contributions, non-reporting of employees, and non-registration of businesses to SSS.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc together with other SSS’ top officials visited seven identified non-compliant business establishments along Ramon Magsaysay Street to give a warning.
A Show Cause Order was posted outside each store which requires the owner of the establishment to respond within 15 days from posting to the nearest SSS branch.
Also, they will be required to register their businesses, report all their employees, and pay the principal delinquency including the accrued penalties. Failure to comply the notice given will be put into legal action.
Based on the reports made by SSS Davao branch, about 30 percent of the business establishments here failed to obey the SSS Law.
Atty. Emmanuel Palma, OIC-Senior Vice President of Mindanao Operations Group, said the investigation is conducted almost every day by the account officers that are being assigned to different areas with different employers.
“Naglalakad sila, nagsusurvey kung sino yung mga hindi nakarehistro at hindi nakapagbayad,” Palma explained.
Based on their latest data, a total of 8,169 are intermittently paying and 1,313 are non-paying employers. About 300 employers are already identified with violations and a total of 190 are to be inspected.
The SSS Mindanao South I which covers five provinces namely Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Surigao del Sur also strengthen its regular activities to further boost coverage and collection in the area through comprehensive employer visitation.
Also, the SSS Mindanao South II which has branches in the areas of General Santos, Coronadal, Tacurong, Cotabato, and Kidapawan made its operation.
Emmanuel Dooc said they expect that the RACE Campaign will further boost their coverage and collection not only here in Davao but in the entire Mindanao Region.
Moreover, he said this will serve as awareness to the employers that it is their responsibility to secure the welfare of their employees.
“I foresee that this will be a continuing crusade. This will not end this year. And for as long as the rate of delinquency continues to remain high, we will be pursuing this campaign,” Dooc concluded.(davaotoday.com)
