SSS now offering its calamity assistance package to earthquake victims in Abra, Mountain Province

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Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Regino announced that members and pensioners affected by the recent Magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Abra and nearby areas may now avail of the Calamity Assistance Package until November 14, 2022.

The Calamity Assistance Package consists of members’ Calamity Loan Assistance Program (CLAP) and the three-month advance pension for pensioners in earthquake-stricken areas in Abra and Mountain Province.

In Mountain Province, towns that are under the state of calamity include Bauko and Besao, while in Abra, these areas are Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguioman, Danglas, Dolores, Lacub, Lagangilang, Lagayan, Langiden, La Paz, Licuan, Luba, Malicbong, Manabo, Penarrubia, Pidigan, Pilar, Sallapadan, San Isidro, San Juan, San Quintin, Tayum, Tineg, Tubo, and Villaviciosa.

Regino said that members and pensioners residing in other earthquake-affected areas could be declared under a state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) or the Sangguniang Bayan, Panlunsod, or Panlalawigan can also avail of the said assistance package.


Calamity Loan Assistance Program

Under the CLAP, qualified members can avail of a loan equivalent to their one month salary credit (MSC) computed based on the average of their last 12 MSCs or the amount they applied for, whichever is lower.


To qualify, affected members must meet the following requirements:

Have a My.SSS account at www.sss.gov.ph; Have at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which must be posted within the last 12 months before the month of filing of application; If self-employed, voluntary (including Non-Working Spouse), or land-based Overseas Filipino Worker members must have at least six monthly contributions under the current membership type. A resident of a calamity-stricken area who suffered damage or loss to their properties due to the earthquake; Have not been granted any final benefit such as permanent total disability or retirement; Have no outstanding Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) or CLAP; and If employed, the member’s employer must certify the CLAP application through online My.SSS facility. Interested members can apply for the calamity loan online through their respective My.SSS account. Three-month Advance Pension Retirement, disability, and survivor pensioners under the Social Security (SS) Program and disability and survivor pensioners under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program may also apply for a three-month advance pension. Interested SS and EC pensioners must be residents of the earthquake-stricken areas declared under the state of calamity. To apply for the three-month advance pension, they should submit the following to any SSS branch: Accomplished Application for Assistance Due to Calamity/Disaster Form certified by the Barangay Chairman; In case the form is not certified by the Barangay Chairman, they can submit the form with a certification from either the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or NDRRMC. Pensioners can download the application form at www.sss.gov.ph or click this link: https://bit.ly/AdvancePensionForm. However, retirement pensioners who have existing loans under the Pension Loan Program (PLP) cannot avail of the three-month advance pension. “Through this SSS Calamity Assistance Package, we can offer immediate financial aid to our members and pensioners as they try to recover from the effects of the recent earthquake,” Regino said.

Easy Franchise helps aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs avail of their dream franchise through #FranchiseDay

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Aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs might have been hesitant to start owning their dream franchise because the process of applying for and owning one can be confusing. Now, thanks to Easy Franchise, the Philippines’ first go-to tech platform for franchising, the application process can be simplified and made easy for potential franchisees, as the company assists them with applying for, operating, and growing their businesses.

To further show its commitment to helping aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs own franchises from halfway across the world, Easy Franchise is bringing back the first and only franchise sale in the Philippines. The annual “Franchise Day” happens on August 28 of every year.

"Our goal is to be every aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs’ Franchise Partner. We do that by taking care of all the day-to-day tasks associated with starting a franchise business so our franchisees can focus on what matters most — building a sustainable business,” she added.

Launched in February 2019, Easy Franchise was founded by Jose Magsaysay, Former CEO and co-founder of Potato Corner, the Philippines’ most successful franchise brand, along with serial entrepreneurs RJ Ledesma and Bubbles Lim.

Easy Franchise opens doors for OFWs through their Franchise Management service. Their team runs OFW's franchises for them so that they have additional income streams while staying abroad, helping them develop financial stability and giving them the opportunity to return home to a business.

“Technology has a major impact on closing gaps in a variety of industries, including franchising. We are creating a digital bridge through Easy Franchise that will enable Filipino migrants and OFWs to join in the franchise sector,” Co-Founder Joe Magsaysay Jr. said.


Easy Franchise has announced that it will be launching its Investment Starter Program.

“We have found a new breed of entrepreneurs who are tech-savvy young people who venture into business or franchising, want to learn how to be entrepreneurs at an early age while still pursuing their passion, and we are here to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey,” RJ Ledesma said .

When starting a franchise, aspiring entrepreneurs face many challenges including raising funds for the initial investment and for the ongoing expenses. The Easy Franchise Funding Service also offers non-collateral franchising loans at lower interest rates. The company also offers free advice on how best to use the money so it will have maximum impact on the bottom line from day one.

Franchise Day 8.28 is an annual online event bringing together various local and international brands to become the one-stop shop of potential franchisees for all their needs.


Interested franchisees can check out franchising opportunities at www.EasyFranchise.com.

Filipino freelancers with overseas clients on the rise - Payoneer, GCash study

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How gig economy remains strong in the Philippines despite uncertainties

Financial services company Payoneer and mobile wallet app GCash recently released The Philippines Freelance Market 2022 Report, a survey report on the current state of the gig economy in the Philippines. The white paper shows that many Filipinos are thriving as freelancers, benefitting from growing overseas freelancing opportunities.

Payoneer and GCash conducted a survey on freelancing trends and behaviors in the Philippines. With 5,560 GCash users across the country as respondents. Sharing the key findings, the report revealed that freelancers who work with local and overseas clients earn 57% more per hour than those who work with just local clients.

Why the gig economy in the Philippines flourishes

In Payoneer’s Global Gig Economy Index 2019, the Philippines landed in sixth place as the fastest-growing market in the world, with a 35% growth in freelance earnings. At the onset of the pandemic, more Filipinos turned to freelancing as a way to generate income despite mobility restrictions. This accelerated the gig economy trend in the country and increased the ranks of Filipino freelancers in 2020-21.

Despite the unpredictability of a steady income stream and job stability, Filipino freelancers continue to take advantage of the benefits of freelancing such as job flexibility, workload control, and greater earning potential from multiple income streams. Given the many benefits of freelancing, many Filipinos now prefer this flexible livelihood option that suits their lifestyles better than traditional employment.

With the government promoting entrepreneurship and digital innovation, freelancers in the Philippines are driven to find work opportunities through online marketplaces and apps. Digital platforms have made it easier for Filipino freelancers to find clients who need services such as photography, blogging/vlogging, graphic design, writing, videography, as well as architecture and engineering.

 

Overseas freelance opportunities abound

While most freelancers still source their jobs in the Philippines, the survey suggests that more and more Filipino freelancers are in demand across countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. GCash and Payoneer’s market report mentioned that, according to Creative Economy Council of the Philippines President Paolo Mercado, up to 1.5 million Filipinos are registered on international online platforms for freelancing services.

“As Filipinos are renowned for their creativity, work ethic, and customer service-orientation, it is not surprising that more and more international businesses are willing to pay for Filipino talent. This should motivate more freelancers in the Philippines to take their freelancing journey to the global stage and benefit from higher earning potential,” said Miguel Warren, Vice President of Payoneer for South East Asia.

 

Importance of timely and secure payment

One thing that holds back Filipino freelancers from pursuing overseas clients is the challenge of securing timely payments from foreign clients. Delayed or denied payments can negatively affect freelancers’ finances. To ensure timely and secure payments, freelancers need a reliable payment platform that connects them to clients from anywhere in the world. With a payment platform, freelancers can conveniently request payment from both local and international clients.

According to the survey, freelancers consider security and accessibility when selecting payment platforms. They also choose payment platforms based on other factors like transaction fees, the convenience of transferring to bank accounts, fast crediting, exchange rates, and live technical support.

 

Supporting Filipino freelancers in going global

Recognizing freelancers’ need for secure and timely payments, Payoneer simplifies payment for cross-border and manages the complexities of moving money through its easy-to-navigate, secure, and affordable payment platform.

As many freelancers mainly use GCash to receive payments from local clients and Payoneer for receiving overseas payments with higher rates, Payoneer has partnered with GCash to provide freelancers a more seamless and convenient payment experience.

By signing up and linking a Payoneer account via GCash, users can receive foreign currency overseas with Payoneer and withdraw the funds locally in PHP instantly for free via the GCash app. This enables freelancers to receive payments from global clients in foreign currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and more.

“With the feature that allows users to link their Payoneer and GCash accounts, we hope to encourage more freelancers to provide their services to international clients. Together with GCash, we hope to do something more in the future to help our Filipino freelancers succeed in the global economy, ” added Warren.

Learn more about the gig economy in the Philippines by downloading The Philippines Freelance Market 2022 Report at this link: https://paynr.co/PH-freelance-report-2022


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