P5.95 bilyong pension loans, inilabas ng SSS

Aabot sa P5. 95 bilyong pension loans ang nai-release ng Social Security System noong 2022. Ayon kay SSS President at Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, record high ito na annual disbursement para sa Pension Loan Program (PLP) simula noong 2018. Ayon kay Macasaet, halos Doble ang pension loan release ngayong taon kumpara sa P3. 08 bilyon noong 2021. “From January to December 2022, the SSS has disbursed a monthly average of P495.77 million pension loans benefitting 10,660 retiree-pensioners, which is 93% higher than its corresponding monthly average in 2021 of P257.01 million to 5,753 retiree-pensioners, ” pahayag ni Macasaet. “We are delighted that we have assisted many of our retiree-pensioners for their short-term and immediate financial needs. We also prevent them from becoming victims of private lending institutions that charge high interest rates and require them to surrender their ATM cards as collateral,” ayon kay Macasaet. Ayon kay Macasaet, tumaas din ang PLP applicants mula nang luwagan ang   community quarantine restrictions sa bansa dahil sa pandemya sa COVID-19.  “Our records show that a total of 127,920 retiree-pensioners availed from the PLP in 2022, which is 85% higher than the 69,036 retiree-pensioners who availed of the program in 2021,” pahayag ni Macasaet. Nabatid na ang Luzon ang nakapagtala ng pinakamataas na bilang ng  PLP applicants na pumalo sa 30,158 retiree-pensioners. Umabot ito sa halagang  P1.39 bilyon na pension loans. Sumunod sa talaan ang National Capital Region (NCR) na may 28,239 borrowers na nagkakahalaga ng P1.43 bilyon. Nasa ikatlong puwesto ang Visayas na may  17,038 loan applicants na nagkakahalaga ng  P740 milyon at lang huli ang  Mindanao na may 12,917 borrowers na aabot sa  P590 milyon. Umabot naman sa 39,568 loan applicants ang online applications.  “Starting May 2022, SSS enhanced PLP by allowing first-time applicants to file their loan applications using their My.SSS account, resulting in 39,568 approved pension loan applications in 2022, a 963% increase from only 3,721 in 2021,” pahayag ni Macasaet. “Opening an online facility for PLP borrowers paved the way for more retiree-pensioners to access this loan program. It also offered them convenience because they could submit their application even in the comfort of their homes. Once approved, the loan proceeds are directly credited to their disbursement accounts within five (5) working days,” dagdag ng opisyal.