MANILA, Philippines–The Social Security System (SSS) on Saturday announced that it will implement a new round of pension increases, launch a micro-loan program, continue its emergency loan facility, expand local and overseas branches, and hire additional personnel in 2026 to serve millions of members nationwide.
SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said the agency will continue existing programs, develop new ones, strengthen member services, and expand the SSS footprint across the Philippines and abroad in 2026.
De Claro said that by September 2025 the SSS will implement the second-to-the-last tranche of its Pension Reform Program, which will provide another round of pension increases for all SSS pensioners.
He said the SSS will keep its Emergency Loan Program available until December 9, 2026, or until authorities lift the relevant calamity declaration, whichever comes earlier.
De Claro said the Social Security Commission has approved guidelines for a micro-loan program, which the SSS plans to implement in early 2026.
He said that, under the guidance of Finance Secretary Frederick Go, the SSS plans to roll out the micro-loan program through partner institutions to offer members a safer and more affordable short-term borrowing option.
He said the micro-loan program will offer loans with tenors ranging from 15 to 90 days and an interest rate of 8 percent per annum or 0.67 percent per month.
De Claro said the SSS aims to ensure that no Filipino worker is left behind by opening new local and overseas branches in 2026.
He said the SSS plans to establish Foreign Representative Offices in Madrid in Spain, San Francisco in the United States, and Macau in China, while also targeting the opening of 10 new branches in the Philippines.
De Claro said the state pension fund plans to hire about 1,800 additional personnel in 2026 to reinforce frontline services both in physical branches and through electronic channels.
He said the recruitment initiative seeks to address gaps in service delivery and improve the handling of assistance requests and complaints from SSS members and pensioners.