With the government’s efforts on flattening the curve, the Enhanced Community Quarantine has been extended and is more likely to be further extended. As the lockdown prolongs, so is the agony of the majority of the Philippine workforce. More and more people are depleting their savings, and are no longer able to afford three meals a day.
To aid everyone in their daily expenses, the national government has rolled out the following programs available to every Filipino.
FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS)
- SSS Salary Loan
For members who need to borrow extra money to cover living expenses
Loan Amount: Up to twice the average of the 12 latest posted monthly salary credit
- SSS Unemployment Benefit
For members who are out of work due to COVID-19
Cash Amount: 50% of the average monthly salary credit up to 2 months
- SSS Calamity Loan
For members who need to borrow extra money to cover living expenses
Loan amount: Up to Php 20,000
The Social Security System offers benefits to its members which are easily accessible. You may visit the SSS Website for more info at www.sss.gov.ph. However, due to the SBWS program, the SSS Website is currently down. Once it’s up and running, you can learn how to apply through their website. Have your SSS number ready, and register online for a My.SSS account for easy access to application forms.
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
- COVID Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP)
For employees affected by income reduction or job loss due to lockdown.
Cash Benefit Amount: Php 5,000
The Department of Labor and Employment launched the COVID Adjustments Measures Program in March to give cash assistance to employees of small to medium private enterprises who were temporarily laid off and those who adopted flexible working arrangements that resulted in lesser cash inflow due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and Luzon-wide lockdown. For more information about DOLE’s CAMP, click here: https://www.dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy-program/
DOLE has already distributed almost all its budget for CAMP and as of 5:00 pm of April 15, the online application has been closed.
But the labor department is seeing the possibility of resuming its cash assistance to formal sector workers with fresh moves in Congress calling for the augmentation of funds for DOLE’s emergency subsidy program. See here for more information: https://www.dole.gov.ph/news/fresh-hopes-to-resuscitate-aid/
FROM PAG-IBIG FUND
- Pag-IBIG Calamity Loan
To provide immediate aid to affected members in calamity-stricken areas.
Loan Amount: Up to 80% of your total accumulated savings
The Pag-IBIG Calamity Loan program has always been there, available for affected members residing in areas declared under a state of calamity. More information on eligibility and application can be found here: https://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/FAQ_CLP.html
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE & DEVELOPMENT
- Social Amelioration Program (SAP)
Cash Benefit Amount: Php 5,000 to Php 8,000 in cash and in-kind, up to 2 months
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has also launched its Social Amelioration Program geared towards assisting primarily the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized sectors of the society financially. Details on this program can be found in the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 4-2020.
https://www.dswd.gov.ph/issuances/MCs/MC_2020-004.pdf
SMALL BUSINESS WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM
The Department of Finance (DOF) together with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Social Security System (SSS) launched the Small Business Wage Subsidy Program to help small businesses nationwide in keeping their employees by providing financial assistance. To be eligible for this cash aid, your business must be registered with the BIR and the SSS as this will help in your pre-qualification. You may check this pages for details: https://www.dof.gov.ph/small-business-wage-subsidy-program/
https://www.bir.gov.ph/index.php/small-business-wage-subsidy-sbws-program.html
You may also go straight here to see if your business is pre-qualified by entering your Tax Identification Number (TIN): https://www.bir.gov.ph/images/sbws/index.php
However, if you try to log in to the SSS Website, you will see this error:
Although the SSS expected a surge in their website’s usage due to the SBWS Program, their website has been down since April 18 due to high online traffic that has “surpassed the system’s computing capacity”. Their technical team is urgently updating the system’s capacity to better serve the people.
As of April 21, emails were sent to pre-qualified business owners outlining instructions on how to avail the said cash assistance.
The businesses will apparently receive three (3) emails:
- This is the email telling you that you have pre-qualified by being compliant with BIR and SSS regulations. It will give you a link to a downloadable file which outlines the steps for application for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program via Microsoft Sharepoint.
- This email will tell you to wait within 24 hours for the authentication email to log in through the Microsoft Sharepoint. Microsoft Sharepoint is the alternative application method other than applying directly through the SSS website.
- This email will contain a unique secure link where you may start filling up your application.
We hope this information has been helpful to you, your friends, family and employers.
During this difficult time, we have kept our lines open. Contact us if you have questions or inquiries at +63917-174-7277 or email us at savviacctg@gmail.com.
Stay in your homes, be safe. We’re all in this together.