The Social Security System (SSS) on Friday honored 16 organizations, including the BusinessMirror as media partner for print, in its annual SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awards, which recognized their contributions in providing social protection to Filipino workers.
“Every year, we honor institutions with invaluable help and support in achieving the SSS mandate. We appreciate the extra effort they give to ensure that the best social security protection for members and beneficiaries is accorded. It is an honor for SSS to have solid partnerships with them,” awards Chairman and Senior Vice President Judy Frances A. See said.
RCBC Savings Bank won as the Best Collecting Thrift Bank and received the Balikat ng Bayan Hall of Fame award for winning the same category for five straight years. The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and One Network Bank Inc. (ONB) both won two Balikat ng Bayan Awards this year.
National Book Store won the Top Employer Award for Large Account. The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, an association of businessmen who support economic, social and cultural development, won as Top Employer for Small/Medium Account.
For Best Collection Partners, BPI won as Best Commercial Bank, RCBC Savings Bank as Best Thrift Bank, and ONB as best Rural Bank. The CIS Bayad Center Inc. won as Best Non-OFW Collecting Partner, while the Ventaja International Corp. won as Best OFW Collecting Partner. These five organizations topped their respective categories in terms of efficient collection schemes for contributions and salary loan payments.
For the Best Paying Partners Category, BPI also won as the Best Commercial Bank, and ONB as Best Rural Bank, while the Best Thrift Bank Award went to Philippine Savings Bank.
The BusinessMirror received a special citation as media partner for print, while the program “Jet Connects: Inyong SSS” of Sky Cable Davao and “Dangpanan” column of Rhona Goc-ong-Villariasa of Sun Star Davao Superbalita won as Best Media Partners for broadcast and print, respectively.
See said these media organizations have helped by providing relevant information about SSS programs and promoting the importance of social security coverage.
Other recipients of special citations include the Quezon City Government Office of the Vice Mayor and the Villa Cristina Verdan Rey Villeco Camella Manuela Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association as exemplary AlkanSSSya Program partners, as well as the International Labor Organization for ensuring the social protection of workers affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda by subsidizing their SSS contributions.
The annual Balikat ng Bayan Awards is one of the highlights of the SSS anniversary celebration during the Social Security month of September. SSS had commissioned Filipino sculptor Dr. Antonino Raymundo to design and conceptualize the Balikat ng Bayan plaque awarded to every winner.