SSS offers calamity loan for tropical cyclone-affected members

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The Social Security System (SSS) today announced that its members in areas battered by tropical cyclones (TCs) Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito in the last few weeks may avail themselves of the calamity loan until 19 December 2024.

SSS Officer-in-Charge Voltaire P. Agas said that SSS is offering a calamity loan to qualified members who can avail of a loan equivalent to their one monthly salary credit or up to P20,000.

“Our country was battered by multiple tropical cyclones in less than a month, making life extremely difficult for our kababayans in devastated areas. SSS wants to extend a lending hand to them through this financial assistance to help them rebuild their lives and get back to normal,” Agas said.

He added that members in the areas declared under state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) can avail of the calamity loan.

Areas under state of calamity due to TC Kristine are Dagupan, Bani and Anda in Pangasinan; Ilagan and Roxas in Isabela; Provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon; Cardona and Binangonan, Rizal; Puerto Galera, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Mansalay, Bulalacao (San Pedro) in Oriental Mindoro; Paluan and Looc in Occidental Mindoro; Provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon; Naga City; Cataingan and San Fernando in Masbate; Calbayog, Samar; Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, Masilog, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan and Mayodolong in Eastern Samar; Magnet, Cotabato; Alfonso Lista (Potia), Ifugao; and Quezon City in National Capital Region (NCR).

Meanwhile, Quirino and Mountain Province; Santiago and Cabagan in Isabela; Baggao, Cagayan; Dilasag, Aurora; and Aguinaldo, Ifugao were also declared under state of calamity due to TCs Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; including Buguey, Gonzaga, Sanchez-Mira, Aparri, and Claveria in Cagayan were also included in the list of declared calamity areas due to TC Marce.

Moreover, members in other areas that may soon be declared under state of calamity due to TCs Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito can also avail of the financial assistance.

To qualify, tropical cyclone-affected members must: Have at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which must be posted within the last 12 months before the month of filing of application;
Have at least six posted monthly contributions under the current membership type before the month of loan application for individually paying members such as self-employed, voluntary, and land-based Overseas Filipino Worker members;

 
Be living or residing in the declared calamity area;

 
Have no final benefit claim such as permanent total disability or retirement;
Have no past due SSS Short-Term Member Loans;

 
Have no outstanding restructured loan or calamity loan; and

 
Must be certified by the employer through online (My.SSS facility) the loan application, if employed.

 
Salary loan as an alternative option

Agas said that tropical cyclone-affected members may also opt to avail of the SSS salary loan.

“They must be under 65 years of age at the time of loan application and have not received any final benefit like total disability, retirement, or death benefits to qualify for the salary loan,” he explained.

Aside from the age requirement, he emphasized that applicants should have at least 36 monthly contributions to get a loan of up to P20,000 or 72 monthly contributions to qualify for a loan of up to P40,000. “Six of these contributions must have been paid in the last 12 months before the month of the loan application and must be under their current membership type.”


Apply through the My.SSS Portal

Agas said that interested members can submit their calamity and salary loan applications online using their My.SSS account via www.sss.gov.ph.

“Once approved, the loan proceeds will be credited to the member’s registered Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID)-ATM Card or their active accounts with a Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) participating bank,” Agas explained.

He added that members can pay the calamity and salary loans in installment for 24 months or two years with a low annual interest rate of 10 percent based on the members' diminishing balance.

DepEd urges field offices, schools to join end VAWC campaign

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The Department of Education urges its field offices and schools to join the 18-day campaign to end violence against women and children (VAWC) from November 25 to December 10, 2024.

Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Fatima Lipp Panontongan encouraged DepEd offices, including the Central, Regional, Schools Division Offices (SDOs), and schools, as well as private basic education institutions to observe activities related to the campaign.

“We encourage everyone to participate and to help foster a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment,” Usec. Panontongan noted.

According to the DepEd Memo No. 65, s. 2024, DepEd will be conducting a culminating activity designed to ensure the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) among women and children in the basic education sector.

Among the activities DepEd field offices and schools may accomplish are the inclusion of VAW-related presentations during flag ceremonies, display of campaign banners, development of materials related to VAW, and conduct of other VAW-related activities such as discussions, orientations, and learning sessions.

Likewise, DepEd also encourages the field offices and schools to conduct their own activities in their jurisdiction and in accordance with the DepEd Memo.

Women and children account for much of DepEd’s constituents. As of May 2024, DepEd is uplifted by 705,258 female teaching personnel, 44,477 female non-teaching staff, and 34,480 teaching-related workers. DepEd serves an estimated total of 27 million learners across the country.

Spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), this year’s sub-theme observance “VAW Bigyang-Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!” aims to highlight the 20 years of achievements in addressing VAW by marking two decades of the Anti-VAWC Act (RA 9262).

For more information and coordination, contact the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development-Employee Welfare Division Gender and Development Secretariat through gfps.secretariat@deped.gov.ph or at (02) 8633-7229.

Understanding the Importance of Clean and Semantic HTML

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In the world of web development, clean and semantic HTML is fundamental to building websites that are efficient, accessible, and future-proof. Clean HTML refers to well-organized, readable code that adheres to universally recognized web standards. Semantic HTML, on the other hand, uses meaningful tags that communicate the meaning (semantics) and structure of the content within them. Together, they create a solid foundation for functional, user-friendly websites.

From improved accessibility to streamlined maintainability, the benefits of clean and semantic HTML cannot be overstated. If you are interested in learning more, keep reading. This article delves into the critical role of clean and semantic HTML in modern web development, exploring its advantages, and why it should be a priority for developers and businesses alike.

The Benefits of Clean and Semantic HTML

The advantages of clean and semantic HTML extend beyond the code itself, impacting user experience, website visibility, and long-term project success. Let’s examine these benefits in detail.

Accessibility: Inclusivity Through Structure

One of the primary benefits of clean and semantic HTML is enhanced web accessibility. Semantic HTML provides a logical structure and additional context, helping accessibility technologies like screen readers interpret web content effectively. This ensures all users—regardless of ability—can interact with and benefit from online content. Unlike generic <div> or <span> tags, semantic elements, such as <nav>, <header>, <main>, and <footer> convey the purpose of their content. Thus, streamlining navigation for users with disabilities.

For example, the <nav> tag indicates a navigation section, which allows screen readers to skip directly to the main navigation links instead of having to go through other contents first. This practice significantly improves the user experience for those relying on assistive technologies. Similarly, the <header> tag can contain introductory content or navigational links, the <main> tag encompasses the primary content of the page, and the <footer> tag includes information like contact details or legal disclaimers. By using these semantic tags, developers ensure that all users can navigate the website more efficiently and effectively.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Boosting Visibility

Semantic HTML is a powerful tool for improving search engine optimization (SEO). By providing a clear and logical structure, semantic tags help search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of a webpage's content. Tags like <h1> for main headings and <p> for paragraphs signal the relevance of content, which can improve a website's SEO performance. A well-structured HTML document is more likely to be indexed correctly, leading to better visibility in search engine results.

For instance, a web development agency Philippines businesses trust would prioritize using semantic HTML to ensure that their clients' websites are not only visually appealing but also structurally sound and accessible. With the use of semantic tags, such agencies help search engines understand the content better, which can lead to improved search rankings.

User Experience: Enhancing Clarity and Navigation

Clean and semantic HTML is not just about enhancing accessibility and boosting SEO—it is also about creating intuitive and visually coherent layouts for a more engaging user experience. A well-structured page guides visitors naturally and allow them to focus on the content rather than struggle with confusing layouts.

Semantic tags <nav> and <footer>, for example, enhance navigation by providing clearer cues about where to find menus or additional information. This clarity leads to smoother interactions, reducing bounce rates and keeping users engaged longer. Whether users are browsing on a laptop or a smartphone, semantic HTML ensures a consistent and satisfying experience.

Maintainability and Scalability: Future-Proofing Projects

Clean HTML is like a well-maintained library—easy to navigate and ready to evolve. Adhering to clean coding practices simplifies debugging, updates, and future enhancements for developers. As projects grow, this clarity ensures that new features can be integrated without introducing errors or inefficiencies.

In addition, semantic HTML works harmoniously with popular CSS frameworks like Bootstrap and Tailwind CSS, making it easier for teams to scale designs. By adopting clean and semantic HTML, businesses and developers ensure that their websites remain adaptable as technology and user expectations evolve.

Legal and Industry Standards Compliance

As accessibility awareness grows globally, many countries require websites to be inclusive and accessible to all users. Clean and semantic HTML plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts by creating a clear structure that works seamlessly with assistive technologies and aligns with widely recognized standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Using elements like <nav> and <main>, semantic HTML improves navigability and ensures compliance with accessibility regulations, reducing the risk of legal and reputational issues. Ultimately, when developers and businesses prioritize clean and semantic HTML, they demonstrate commitment to equality and user satisfaction.

Consequences of Ignoring Clean and Semantic HTML

Neglecting clean and semantic HTML can have far-reaching consequences. Poorly structured code often results in inaccessible websites, frustrating user experiences, and diminished search rankings. Additionally, disorganized code is more challenging and costly to maintain, leading to delays and inefficiencies in future updates.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, prioritizing clean and semantic HTML is no longer optional. Whether you’re a developer or a business owner, embracing these practices will position you for long-term success in an increasingly competitive online world.