SSS eyes hiring of PWDs in branches, offices in 2023

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The Social Security System (SSS) announced on Friday that it plans to hire additional Persons with Disability (PWDs) in its branches and offices.

SSS President and CEO Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said that even as the SSS is compliant with the Magna Carta for PWDs, it continues to look for other ways to encourage the active participation of PWDs in the society.


“As one of the country’s primary providers of meaningful social security protection to Filipino workers, we can attest to the importance of having gainful work during your younger years not only to make ends meet but also to secure your future,” Macasaet said. “Having this in mind, we want to do our part in helping PWDs obtain this right by providing them with more employment opportunities in our offices.”


The SSS will coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD’s) National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and other agencies and organizations that share the same goals, to disseminate vacancy announcements, to facilitate the hiring of PWDs, and to ensure the provision of special facilities.


The SSS is a state-run social insurance institution that extends social security protection to Filipino workers in the private and informal sectors. Under the Social Security Act of 2018, it provides seven benefit programs namely Sickness, Maternity, Unemployment, Retirement, Disability, Death, and Funeral, as well as loan privileges.

As of December 2022, the SSS has 279 local and 28 foreign offices staffed by 6,525 regular employees.

DOH calls for polio, measles outbreak prevention to protect children

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Vaccines are effective in stopping the spread of measles, rubella and polio in communities.

The Department of Health - Metro Manila Center for Health Department (DOH-MMCHD) warned the public of an impending polio and measles outbreak this year if not addressed immediately.

During the online media partner's meeting on Thursday, April 13, the DOH-MMCHD 2022 data showed a notable 160 percent increase in cases of rubella and measles compared to 2021, which calls for Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) to prevent an outbreak of the diseases.

According to DOH-MMCHD, millions of children were not able to get vaccinated during the pandemic, and the number of unvaccinated children is increasing because of the delays in vaccination brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.





It can be recalled that Polio attacks the spinal cord and nerves of muscles in the feet/legs, which causes paralysis. The infection may also ascend and affect the muscles of breathing including the diaphragm causing difficulty breathing. Polio is dangerous especially for children younger than 5 years old.

On the other hand, Rubella or "tigdas-hangin" is an infectious virus that can infect pregnant women. This may cause the mother to lose her child or give birth to a child with congenital malformations.

Meanwhile, Measles or "tigdas" may cause severe complications including blindness, encephalitis, ear infection, and pneumonia. It can also cause death.

DOH-MMCHD noted that many children will be in danger if the spread of these diseases is not prevented. An outbreak of polio, rubella, and measles may also happen.

"We would need additional budget, personnel, and resources to address the outbreak while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing," DOH-MMCHD stated.

"Our health personnel will be overburdened with the possible surge of patients in facilities... facilities will not be enough, and adequate medical attention may not be provided due to the volume of patients," DOH-MMCHD added.

To avoid the possible effects of widespread dissemination and infection of the said diseases, the DOH-MMCHD will be conducting a vaccination campaign from May 1-31, 2023 in health centers and assigned temporary vaccination posts nationwide. Vaccination teams will also go house-to-house to encourage the vaccination of children from 0 o 59 months old.





All children will be given supplemental doses. Measles-Rubella Vaccine will be given to 9-59 months old, while Oral Polio vaccine will be given to 0-59 months old.
The activity shall be synchronized and completed within 4 weeks including rapid convenience monitoring (RCM), mop ups for missed children, follow-ups of deferred children and for refusals.

Parangal ng Sining 2023: Lifetime Achievement Awardees

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For dedicating their lives in pursuit of mastering their craft and for their significant contributions to the development of Philippine Cinema, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will confer the Lifetime Achievement Award to Ms. Vilma Santos, Mr. Nick Deocampo, Ms. Lily Yu Monteverde, and to Cinemalaya at the "Parangal ng Sining," an invitation-only event, which will be held on April 23 in Seda Hotel.

“Parangal ng Sining” (Honor of the Arts) is FDCP’s initiative to give homage to Filipino filmmakers, artists, and institutions who continue to achieve and strive for excellence, leading to acclaim in international film festivals across the globe Known as the Star For All Seasons, Vilma Santos is undeniably one of the most successful and most influential actresses of her generation. From multiple box office hits to high-rating television shows, she has grown into the icon that she is today. Her influence, not just in the entertainment industry, transcended into public service as she became a public servant.

For transcending stardom into becoming a symbol of resilience and professionalism, a shining example of what it means to be a beacon to the public, the FDCP will confer the Lifetime Achievement Award to Vilma Santos.

Lily Yu Monteverde, most commonly known as Mother Lily, is one of the first producers who pioneered the production of some Filipino blockbuster films in the country.

As the matriarch of Regal Entertainment, Inc., the oldest movie production company in the Philippines, Mother Lily led the production of the “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” franchise which has become one of the most popular and most iconic horror franchises in the country.

For tirelessly navigating the decades of changing trends in Philippine cinema and for giving life changing opportunities to young directors and writers to find their voices in mainstream movies, the FDCP will confer the Lifetime Achievement Award to Vilma Santos. 

A film professor, a film archivist, and a film historian, Nick Deocampo dedicated his life to the scholarship of Philippine Cinema. He significantly contributed to the discovery and restoration of many Filipino films, which many have thought have been already lost.

His extensive research on Philippine cinema also led to the discovery of many tales and fascinating stories about the country’s cinematic history, allowing the younger generation to reflect and further build on our very own cinematic past.

For his consistent output of tireless studies of Filipino films that help future generations of Filipinos to understand the roots and directions of the art, the FDCP will confer the Lifetime Achievement Award to Nick Deocampo.

Established to help develop and support the production of cinematic works of Filipino independent filmmakers and to inspire Asian filmmakers by showcasing the Philippines as the cinematic center of creativity and free artistic expression, the Cinemalaya Foundation has been steadily contributing to the growth of the local film industry.

For 18 years, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, Cinemalaya Foundation’s core project, has provided a platform for both independent filmmakers and independent films which allowed them to reach a wider audience and showcase their unique perspectives through feature films and short films.

For providing the platform for cinema artists—whether in front or behind the camera—to be recognized for their priceless talent, the FDCP will confer the Lifetime Achievement Award to Cinemalaya.

Through “Parangal ng Sining,” the FDCP aims to encourage and motivate the creatives and stakeholders of the Philippine Film Industry, including the filmmakers, artists, workers, distributors, cinema owners, and audiences to come together and continue celebrating the role and importance of cinema in distilling the nation’s cultural identity, and our own identity as Filipinos.