MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) – The Social Security System (SSS) Maasin City Branch Office were able to send hundreds of students to college and vocational-technical (voc-tech) thru its educational loan program.
According to Branch Head Gregorio S. Baroza during the interview at Action Center Kapihan sa PIA, Wednesday said, “there are some 145 students from the province of Southern Leyte, who are benefiting the educational loan program of the Social Security System (SSS).”
Baroza noted that majority of those who availed of the educational loan portfolio are pursuing college degrees while 10 of them are enrolled in the vocational and technical courses education.
He said the acceptance of new applicants for the educational loan are now suspended since December 2013, however, those who were able to avail earlier of said program will continue to be assisted by SSS until such time they will complete their 4-5 years college education and a maximum of 3 years in vocational -technical courses, as well.
Educational loan program is funded by the national government and SSS on a 50:50 basis and that there are 59,600 students benefiting the said program across the country, he said.
Meanwhile, Baroza also reported that there are already five associations mostly from the informal sectors coming from Maasin City, Macrohon, Sogod and Bato,Leyte like fisherfolks, motorcab drivers, who have availed of their ALKANSSSYA program starting last May 2014. (AJC/ESG/PIA8 SoLeyte)
