BALANGA CITY — As Bataan shifts today to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Social Security System (SSS) Balanga branch started implementing a number coding system upon its resumption of office operations.
SSS Balanga Branch Head Joel Villafuerte said the number coding arrangement aims to enforce social distancing and limit expected surge of clients.
“Only scheduled ending digits on the SSS ID employer or member will be entertained. We are open Mondays to Fridays from 8:00AM to 5:00PM,” he said in an interview.
SSS ID number ending in 1 and 2 can transact on Mondays, those ending in 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 are on Thursdays, while 9 and 0 are allowed on Fridays.
Villafuerte also stressed that senior citizen members are strictly prohibited to do office transactions as they are vulnerable to being infected with COVID-19 in compliance to guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases,
Prohibited as well to physically transact in the office are persons under 21 years of age, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidities or other health risks, and pregnant women.
Moreover, the branch is enforcing the “No Mask, No Entry” policy, and clients are advised to bring their own pens.
He also assured that they are observing the alternative work arrangement imposed to government offices under GCQ.
“As only 50 percent of workforce is allowed, we adopted the three-day report to office and two-day work from home of our employees,” he added.
The branch is still implementing its No Contact Dropbox System in accepting applications for benefits and loans.
Under the system, application forms downloaded from the official site can be submitted together with necessary requirements in a box provided in front of the office.
“For new membership applications, interested individuals can register online to avoid going physically to our office for the transactions,” Villafuerte furthered.
The SSS official also announced that contribution payment for the months of February, March and April this year for all regular employers is extended until June 15. Same deadline applies to all household employers, self-employed, voluntary and non-working spouse members.
For further queries, SSS Balanga branch can be reached at 237-3349 for concerns on member services, while 237-0738 is the contact number of Administrative and Accounts Management Section.