SSS extends contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 in ‘Odette’-hit areas

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The Social Security System (SSS) announced that the contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 is extended to February 28, 2022, in areas declared under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Odette through Presidential Proclamation No. 1267.

Based on SSS Circular No. 2022-004 dated February 9, 2022, contribution payments that may be made until the extended deadline are for the applicable months of November and December 2021 of business and household employers; and October to December 2021 of coverage and collection partners (CCPs), self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouse (SE/V/NWS) members, and land-based Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) members in the following regions: Region IV-B (MIMAROPA); Region VI (Western Visayas); Region VII (Central Visayas); Region VIII (Eastern Visayas); Region X (Northern Mindanao); and Region XIII (CARAGA). “We have seen the adverse effects brought by Typhoon Odette to our fellow citizens last December. Through this extension, we aim to alleviate the worries of our members, employers, and CCPs in the affected areas by helping them to not miss their contribution payments or avoid the penalties of late payments,” SSS President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio said.   For employers with approved installment proposals, their post-dated checks that fall due in December 2021 and January 2022shall be deposited on or before February 28, 2022.   Meanwhile, no contributions paid retroactively by an SE/V/NWS and land-based OFW member will be used in determining his/her eligibility to any benefit arising from a contingency wherein the date of payment is within or after the semester of contingency. For example, if an SE/V/NWS or land-based OFW member gets sick in April 2022, his/her semester of contingency will be from January to June 2022. This would mean that contributions paid during this time of extension will not be used to determine the eligibility of the said member for the benefit since the date of payment falls within the semester of contingency.   Under normal circumstances, the SSS’ contribution payment deadline of business employers is every last day of the month following the applicable month, while for household employers and SE/V/NWS members, the deadline is every last day of the month following the applicable month or calendar quarter, as the case may be.   Moreover, the contribution payment deadline for land-based OFW members for the applicable months of January to September of a given year is every December 31 of the same year, while for the applicable months of October to December of a given year, it is every January 31 of the succeeding year.   If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, payments may still be made on the next working day.   Information about online and alternative payment channels for SS contributions can be accessed at the uSSSap Tayo Portal at https://crms.sss.gov.ph.   The SSS also opened a calamity assistance package for its members and pensioners affected by Typhoon Odette. Programs under the package are the Calamity Loan Assistance Program for members and three-month advance pension for SS and EC pensioners, which will run until April 13, 2022; and the Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan Program, which will be open for applications until December 23, 2022. The complete guidelines of the said programs can be found at https://bit.ly/SSSCI2021-020.   For more information, follow “Philippine Social Security System – SSS” on Facebook, “mysssph” on Instagram or YouTube, “PHLSSS” on Twitter, or join the SSS’ Viber Community at “MYSSSPH Updates.”

PLDT Enterprise underscores advantages of IoT deployment in PH businesses

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PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s largest fully integrated telecommunications provider PLDT, highlights the advantages of deploying Internet of Things (IoT) technology in overcoming the impacts of the pandemic to local businesses.

Jojo Gendrano, FVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise, said that IoT technology has been increasingly relevant in allowing entrepreneurs to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape, effectively addressing the challenges in the new normal.

“As we continue to feel the effects of the pandemic, businesses need to be empowered by enabling a truly connected environment where they can overcome the challenges of distance and physical restrictions. We can do that through adopting technologies such as Internet of Things,” said Gendrano.

IoT technology allows communication between machines through wired and wireless communication channels, enabling full control, visibility, transparency, and security of internet-enabled devices. It is one of the innovations behind smart homes and smart cities, wherein cloud-connected devices are equipped with sensors and processors which can gather and transmit data for automation, remote monitoring and management to empower a more efficient and smarter way of life.

Such technology poses limitless possibilities to different sectors from manufacturing, health care, communications, transportation and logistics, to retail, agriculture, and finance.

“Internet of Things deployment is much needed especially now when businesses are struggling with mobility and physical restrictions, limited manpower, system security issues, and reduced operations efficiency. Many organizations have been dealing with these, comprising their business productivity. This should not be the case because we can manage these difficulties through the right solutions and right technologies. We believe IoT can help solve these all at once,” he said.

Recently, PLDT Enterprise launched its newest digital offering called the Internet of Possibilities by PLDT and Smart which aims to open up new possibilities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications and deployment among enterprises and consumers in the country.

It is a unified platform for the effective management of connectivity and usage of a multitude of connected IoT devices within enterprises. It seamlessly integrates existing business processes into a common, open platform for data and insights that can be used to open unlimited business growth opportunities to various industries.

Watch how PLDT and Smart’s Internet of Possibilities can build tomorrow’s smarter communities and cities here: https://youtu.be/h5nsjRRc5IM



For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. #

Vibal Foundation Publishes Correos Filipinas: Philippine Stamps and Postal History

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Vibal Foundation, Inc. (VFI) continues its commitment and vision to enrich Filipinos' knowledge and appreciation of Philippine history, culture, and the arts by launching  Correos Filipinas: Philippine Stamps and Postal History on January 31, 2022 at VFI’s monthly virtual tertulia.

Correos Filipinas: Philippine Stamps and Postal History

Jose Eleazar Bersales' Correos Filipinas: Philippine Stamps and Postal History (1565–1953) comprehensively presents Philippine history from the 16th to the mid-20th century through the perspective of the stamps issued and used. This newest addition to the Filipiniana Clasica collection serves as a valuable resource for specialist collectors, history buffs, and casual readers who intend to immerse themselves in understanding the colonial-era philately. 

The postal history of the Philippines reflects a decades-long colonial regime and is intertwined with native responses that came along with it. The use of stamps corresponded to the development of modern postal services that were institutionalized and supported by the state. The book encompasses a rich timeline and provides side stories and supplemental sections on postal stationery, postcards, wrappers, and envelopes for better historical context.

The opening chapter of the book tackles the time before the use of stamps. It also touches on the official or royal correspondence between Spain and the Philippines that took effect upon the issuance of a circular from Spain which established the postal service in the Philippines.  It also explains the various challenges encountered in the delivery and handling of mail despite the institution of the State Maritime Post or Institución de los Correos Marítimos del Estado in 1764.

The next chapter deals with the game-changing introduction of prepaid adhesive postage stamps during the 19th century. This traces back to 1853 when Queen Isabella II issued a royal decree to start manufacturing and selling postage stamps for domestic use within the Philippines. At that time, authorities in Manila were ill-equipped to create a functional postal service and had to make do with what they could get.

The third chapter delves into the Universal Postal Union (UPU) surcharges and the New Alfonso XII issues. The fourth chapter covers the period between 1880 and 1889 when many stamps in the Philippines went through a series of surcharges and overprints. This era is marked with issues surrounding the legitimacy of stamps since forgeries became rampant during this period.

The fifth chapter delves further into the use of other types of stamps for postage. During this period, the Administracion General Comunicaciones or General Administration for Communications managed both postal and telegraphic services. The next chapter focuses on the stamp issues concerning Alfonso XIII.

The seventh chapter highlights the efforts of the First Philippine Republic President, Emilio Aguinaldo,  to formally establish a Filipino-run postal and telegraphic system. This was followed by a chapter that elaborates on the various stamps issued under the American colonial government.

The second to the last chapter details the numerous stamp issues released under the Philippine Commonwealth government while the final chapter delves into the stamps issued in the country during World War II.

All ten chapters are intricately woven with rich facts, side stories, and images that interestingly satisfy both the curious and intellectual minds. Correos Filipinas: Philippine Stamps and Postal History is a unique and valuable addition to the Filipiniana collection and is equally perfect for pleasurable reading, especially to those with a passion for history and philately.

For interested readers, copies of the Correos Filipinas: Philippine Stamps and Postal History (1565–1953) will be available soon for online purchase at the Vibal Online Shop at https://shop.vibalgroup.com/, and via our Lazada and Shopee pages. Further announcements will be made on our social media pages.