Marcos Urges Informal Sector to Contribute to SSS, Pag-IBIG Fund

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2026), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged the public and the informal sector to make monthly contributions to the Social Security System (SSS) and the Pag-IBIG Fund. Marcos said that 44 million Filipinos are protected under the SSS. Of this, he said 80,000 are drivers, vendors, gig workers, job order and contract of service, among others. “It’s our mission for more Filipinos to join SSS, especially the informal sector and the self-employed individuals like them,” he said. “I therefore call on the entire nation: let us not take for granted the security provided by the SSS and the Pag-IBIG Fund. Let us ensure that we make the proper monthly contributions for the betterment of our future,” he added. Marcos stressed that the SSS, Pag-IBIG Fund, and GSIS help the public during times of emergency, disaster, or personal crisis. Meanwhile, he said that the Pag-IBIG fund allows the public to provides a way for people to acquire their own home. “The DHSUD and the agencies that are part of the housing system are there to help fulfill the dream of every Filipino to have a home,” he said. “Together with the private sector and local government units, we are vigorously addressing the housing shortage across the country,” he added. Marcos said that under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino, 500,000 houses were established or funded, including over 1,000 for this year. He also noted that Pag-IBIG Fund has raised its maximum housing loan amount per borrower to P10 million. “For example, because of this, couples have a greater capacity to buy the house they dream of for their family,” he said. According to Marcos, almost 7 million overseas Filipino workers (OFW) now have insurance. He said that the minimum wage for OFWs who work as domestic workers have also increased. Meanwhile, he said the government increased the pension and subsistence allowance for pensioned uniformed personnel. — RSJ, GMA News