CAGAYAN DE ORO (PIA) -- Acting on delinquent employers in northern Mindanao, the Social Security System (SSS) continues to implement the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign, where they were able to convince 67 employers to pay their dues in full, amounting to P5.35 million in 2023. 

These were among the 340 employers visited and reprimanded for non-compliance. There were also 110 employers that negotiated and applied for installment proposals, while 39 applied for condonation. 

"Our goal is to raise awareness not only for employers but also for employees because employees are the ones who know whether their contributions are being remitted or not. Sometimes, employers fail to remit contributions in full, and if employees are empowered, they themselves can inform us of such occurrences," said Ira Levin A. Filoteo, concurrent acting head of SSS Cagayan de Oro, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among both employers and employees regarding SSS contributions.  

She added that the RACE campaign not only serves to enforce compliance but also provides employers with 30 days to settle their delinquencies before facing adverse legal actions. This proactive approach highlights the commitment of SSS to ensuring the welfare and rights of employees through the proper remittance of contributions.

On its first day of operation, the SSS team visited the targeted business establishments in key areas of Cagayan de Oro City, including Lapasan, Gusa, Cugman, Barangay Nazareth, and Corrales Avenue. 

The activity aims to foster a culture of responsibility among employers, ensuring the timely remittance of employees' contributions to the SSS. They also provided clarity on the regulations, addressed concerns, and encouraged employers to fulfill their obligations promptly. 

“RACE operations were conducted only in April and November, but this year, we are now on a quarterly basis because we saw the big impact of the RACE operation on the collection and also on the awareness of the employers,” said Valentine Aunzo, branch head of SSS CDO-Lapasan. 

Through direct face-to-face interactions with business owners and employees, the SSS encourages employers to grab this opportunity to resolve any outstanding contributions on time because compliance with the SSS Law not only protects the interests of employees but also contributes to the stability and sustainability of the SSS benefits. 

As the campaign operation progresses, the SSS Cagayan de Oro remains committed to its mission of promoting social security and upholding the rights of workers across Northern Mindanao by deciding to do this activity quarterly each year. Through collaborative efforts with stakeholders, the campaign aims to cultivate a culture of compliance and accountability in the business community, bringing mutual benefits to both employers and employees. (KAPG/PACR/PIA-10)