The Social Security System (SSS) branch in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, has successfully collected PHP2.85 million from 137 delinquent employers as part of its Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign this year. The initiative, which has been active from January to the present, has conducted 16 RACE activities, aiding 472 employees across Urdaneta City and nearby towns including Asingan, Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Rosales, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Sta. Maria, Tayug, Umingan, and Villasis.
Christopher Servas, the head of SSS Urdaneta City, explained that the campaign targets employers who have failed to register or remit contributions, with 72 cases related to non-registration and 65 due to non-remittance. Servas emphasized that the RACE program is designed not as a punitive measure but as a reminder for employers to comply with SSS regulations, which ultimately benefits both employers and their employees.
Employers who receive a notice have a 15-day window to comply with Republic Act No. 11199, the Social Security Act of 2018, to avoid severe penalties, which can include fines from PHP5,000 to PHP20,000 and imprisonment ranging from six to twelve years. Servas urged all delinquent employers to settle their dues promptly to ensure their employees receive the social security benefits they deserve.
The Urdaneta branch still has PHP5.3 million in outstanding collections from various employers, managed through approved installments, legal cases, and demand letters. To assist employers facing financial difficulties, SSS offers the Contribution Penalty Condonation, Delinquency Management, and Restructuring Program (CPCoDe MRP), allowing them to pay unremitted contributions at a six percent annual interest rate while waiving accrued penalties.