Mariano Marcos
State University

COS, JO personnel encouraged to secure SSS coverage

By Benedict Jay Collado

Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers of Mariano Marcos State University are urged to acquire comprehensive social security coverage, following a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the university and the Social Security System (SSS) today, August 3.

Under the partnership signed by MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. and SSS Luzon North 1 Division Vice President Normita Cruz, non-permanent university staff, who are excluded from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), can now enroll in the SSS Self-Employed Program.

“This partnership shows how much we truly value the people who make this university run,” said President Manzano as he emphasized that the agreement will ensure worker protection against financial hardships caused by sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, and death.

To ensure seamless participation, MMSU agreed to automatically deduct monthly SSS and Employees’ Compensation (EC) contributions from the wages of participating COS and JO workers and remit the funds on their behalf.

The agreement also extends to MMSU’s regular and permanent employees, who may continue their monthly contributions as voluntary members via automatic payroll deductions, provided they have existing SSS accounts from prior private employment.

To facilitate the rollout, SSS will implement several on-site services across MMSU campuses, including direct registration and Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card enrollment for eligible employees.

The system will also provide dedicated account management by assigning an SSS Account Officer to coordinate directly with a designated MMSU Liaison Officer. Additionally, SSS will conduct free seminars to educate members on loan privileges, benefit packages, and program updates.

Effective upon signing, the agreement covers all personnel across both the university’s central and field units.