SONA 2026: Marcos urges informal sector to make contributions to SSS, Pag-IBIG

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.

“Misyon natin na mas marami pang Pilipino ang makakasapi sa SSS, lalo na ang impormal na sektor at mga self-employed na tulad nila,” he said.

(It’s our mission for more Filipinos to join SSS, especially the informal sector and the self-employed individuals like them.)

“Kaya nananawagan ako sa buong sambayanan: huwag nating ipagwalang-bahala ang seguridad na handog ng SSS, pati na ng Pag-IBIG Fund. Tiyakin po natin ang wasto at buwanang paghulog para sa mas ikakabuti ng ating kinabukasan,” he added.

(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.)

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.

“Nariyan ang DHSUD at mga ahensyang kasapi sa sistema ng pabahay upang matupad ang pinapangarap na tahanan ng Pilipino,” he said.

(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.)

“Katuwang ang pribadong sektor at lokal na pamahalaan, puspusan nating pinupuno ang kakulangan sa pabahay sa buong bansa,” he added.

(Together with the private sector and local government units, we are vigorously addressing the housing shortage across the country.)

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.

“Halimbawa, dahil dito, ang mag-asawa ay may mas kakayahang bumili ng pinapangarap nilang bahay para sa kanilang pamilya,” 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