JEDDAH, 6 March 2006 — Here’s a bit of good news for members of the Philippine Social Security System (SSS) who missed the agency’s loan amnesty program.

The SSS has announced that the amnesty program has been extended to the end of June to help members settle their delinquent salary loans and other short-term debts to the institution.

SSS Officer-in-Charge Horacio Templo has said President Arroyo has approved the extension following a clamor among those who missed the amnesty program which began in October 2004.

“We are glad to announce that Malacañang has approved our recommendation to extend the amnesty program for short-term loans,” Templo said.

Under the program, members can pay their loans without penalties. A one-time payment or payment by installment are both allowed but payment by installment could entail some “proportionate write-off” penalties.

Covered by the amnesty program are salary, calamity, emergency, educational, study-now-pay-later plan, vocational/technical, student and Y2K loans.

Delinquent SSS short-term loans carry a penalty of one percent a month.

A number of OFWs who have availed themselves of the program urged others to do the same.

“It’s a good news particularly to those who live and work in far places like us,” said Mario Viray, who is based in Jizan.

Nenita Santos, a 41-year-old dressmaker, said she will make sure not to miss the amnesty program. “Kahit gipit ako ngayon pipilitin ko nang makabayad sa utang ko nuon pang 1984 para makaiwas sa pagkalaki-laking penalty (I have little money to spare but this one’s an opportunity I should not miss to avoid the penalty).”

Templo said the amnesty program has allowed the SSS to clean its books and boost its investment earnings and the members’ response “has been encouraging.”

“The SSS is pleased with the patronage and support of the members, and I am glad we are able to give those who missed the amnesty last year a chance to settle their obligations with a new deadline in June,” he said.

SSS recovered more than 896 million pesos in back payments from delinquent loans during the one-year amnesty program that ended in Sept. 30, last year.

Hundreds of SSS members who rushed to avail of the amnesty before it ended last year, trooped to SSS offices located in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Jeddah just before the deadline ends.