DECEMBER 25, 2025 — The Social Security System (SSS) is preparing a sweeping rollout in 2026, introducing a microloan program, raising pensions, and expanding its reach both at home and abroad.

The microloan scheme, approved by the Social Security Commission in December, is expected to launch early next year. SSS president and chief executive officer Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said the program will be implemented through partner institutions. 

“With guidance from Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go, SSS is looking to implement this micro loan program through partner institutions very soon as a safer and affordable option to borrow cash for short-term needs with 15- to 90-day tenor and interest rate of 8% per annum or 0.67% per month,” De Claro noted.

By September 2026, pensioners will see the second tranche of increases under the Pension Reform Program. Retirement and disability pensioners will receive additional adjustments, while death and survivor pensioners are set for a 5% hike. Another round of increases is scheduled for September 2027, covering pensioners as of August 31 that year.

Beyond financial reforms, SSS is eyeing a wider footprint. Plans include opening foreign representative offices in Madrid, San Francisco, and Macau, alongside 10 new branches across the Philippines. To support this expansion, the agency intends to hire 1,800 personnel to strengthen frontline services.

The move reflects SSS’s broader mandate to provide social protection against income loss due to disability, sickness, maternity, old age, or death. Yet the reforms also highlight the balancing act between offering financial aid and ensuring sustainability of the fund.

(Image: Philippine News Agency)