In a landmark partnership, the Social Security System (SSS) and DoubleDragon Corporation have joined forces to provide financial security to 2,000 informal sector workers. The partnership was sealed through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph Montes De Claro and DoubleDragon Chairman Edgar “Injap” Sia II.
As part of the agreement, DoubleDragon will fully subsidize the SSS contributions for selected workers in Iloilo City and Roxas City for 12 months, totaling a commitment of ₱18.2 million. The initiative aims to remove financial barriers and grant workers access to essential social security benefits.
SSS President De Claro expressed his gratitude to DoubleDragon for answering the call to support Filipino workers through the SSS Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP). He highlighted that the subsidy will not only assist the 2,000 recipients but also indirectly benefit their families by providing them with social security coverage.
“This SSS contribution subsidy will not only support the 2,000 recipients but will also benefit their extended families,” said De Claro. “By offering access to social security, DoubleDragon is empowering these informal sector workers to have a safety net to rely on in times of need.”
Chairman Sia, in response, expressed his commitment to giving back to the SSS and the Filipino people. He recalled his own experience when he secured a corporate loan from SSS in 1997 to build a 59-room hotel in Iloilo City, which marked the beginning of his journey as a successful entrepreneur.
“I would like to thank PCEO Jay for this contribution program, giving entrepreneurs like me a chance to pay it forward and help thousands of our countrymen who need some lift in life,” Sia remarked.
The CSPP aims to support self-employed workers, land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and voluntary SSS members by partnering with private or government entities that shoulder contribution payments on behalf of the selected beneficiaries. The minimum subsidy period under the program is six consecutive months.
With DoubleDragon’s commitment as a Contribution Subsidy Provider, the collaboration sets a precedent for more private entities to support workers in the informal economy. Sia emphasized that this partnership not only allows him to reciprocate the assistance he once received from SSS but also to extend a helping hand to thousands of fellow Filipinos.
After nearly three decades since his first corporate loan with SSS, Sia remains grateful and optimistic about continuing meaningful collaborations with the agency in the years to come.
