MANILA, Philippines — An online filing system for unemployment benefits of workers affected due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine measures is already in the works, the Social Security System (SSS) announced Monday.
SSS president Aurora Ignacio said it is aimed at serving members as early as April.
“Ang amin pong unemployment benefit ngayon ay ginagawan ng paraan para maging online filing,” Ignacio said in a televised public briefing.
(We are working on an online filing for our unemployment benefit.)
“Minamadali na po namin na sana matapos ito ngayong buwan ng April, maging available sa mga empleyado na nawalan ng trabaho dahil dito sa COVID,” Ignacio said.
(We are fast-tracking the system so that by April, online application will be available for employees who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.)
Currently, Ignacio said application for such benefit is only done on an over-the-counter basis. But she noted that select offices are only running on a limited workforce.
SSS has yet to determine the number of workers who lost their jobs, Ignacio said, citing skeletal force in its offices.
The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said SSS is ready to extend relief of up to P1.2 billion to workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 situation.