Anilao LGU Enrols Women in Social Insurance Initiative

Anilao, Iloilo–The Anilao municipal local government in Iloilo Province facilitated the enrolment of 50 women microentrepreneurs within the Social Security System (SSS) program. Enrolment of informal sector women assures social protection and social benefits for women and their families.

Anilao’s GAD Focal Point System, led by Mayor Ma. Teresa Debuque and GFPS co-chair Ma. Liza Bosque, conceptualized the idea of including the SSS benefit package within the SEA-K livelihood program of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).

Through a coordination meeting in July 2014, the PCW-AECID Project, GAD focal persons from Anilao and Iloilo, representatives of women’s organizations, SSS and microentrepreneurs jointly designed a social security payment mechanism, management and monitoring system suitable for informal sector women to acquire social insurance.

The LGU organized accomplishment of enrollment forms, processed and authenticated required documents (i.e., enrolee’s birth certificate, marriage contract and certificate of indigency or residency) and minimized costs to facilitate speedy processing.

Within the SEA-K system, payment of SSS contribution is integrated in the payment of weekly amortized loan from the MSWD. Each member pays an additional Php 70 to Php 80 pesos every week to cover the monthly SSS premium of Php 330. The SEA-K treasurer in each barangay collects SSS payments on schedule and deposits payments in the designated bank. The federation treasurer then withdraws the contributions and makes the monthly payment to SSS. Enrolled women members obtain receipts of their contributions. Alternative payment arrangements and rescheduling payment of previous SSS loans were also designed to facilitate updated membership and prevent delinquency.

Once the enrolment program is fully tested, Anilao LGU plans to have the initiative cover non-SEA-K members, including market vendors, pedicab drivers, barangay health workers and daycare workers enrolled in another social insurance scheme, known as the Alkansya Program.

The municipality of Anilao in Iloilo is a partner of the Philippine Commission on Women-AECID Magna Carta of Women (MCW) Project. The AECID MCW Project extends capacity development, technical and funding support to pilot local government units that will craft and implement gender-responsive policies, plans, programs and activities for women’s economic empowerment and women’s social rights.