About 8 businesses located within Panglao Island were given notices as they get subjected to the Social Security System’s (SSS) Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) program due to violation of the SSS Law, according to a spokesperson of the agency.

Sherwin Dan Solibaga II, the Regional Communications Officer-Designate of SSS in the Visayas Central 1 Division bared that the agency conducted the RACE operation on Aug. 19, 2022 with SSS vice president for Visayas Central Division 1 Alberto Montalbo taking the lead.

The RACE program of the SSS is not a shame campaign. It is meant to help delinquent businesses to return in good standing with the SSS for the benefit of their workers so that the employees can avail themselves of the agency’s benefits when the time comes, Solibaga explained during a radio interview over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on Aug. 19, 2022, hosted by Dave Albarado.

“Ang atong purpose or atong katuyuan sa kining RACE operation is to help our employers or these delinquent employers nga mabalik ang ilang good standing status with SSS. This is not really a shame campaign,” he told Albarado during the interview.

Solibaga added that the common violations of the 8 businesses subjected to RACE are non-registration of business and non-remittance of contributions.

The SSS spokesman said that the violations affected around 146 employees.

Solibaga said that 7 establishments were based in Panglao town while an enterprise based in Dauis town was subjected to the RACE program, too.

However, he refused to identify the businesses saying that most of the establishments subjected to the RACE are resorts. He added that there is one business entity served the same notice under the RACE and this is a learning institution.

Solibaga said that those delinquent businesses subjected to the RACE program need to pay the penalties and to correct their delinquencies in order to restore their good standing status with the SSS.

These establishments are given 15 days from the receipt of notice to correct their delinquencies or face stiffer penalties under the SSS Law.

“In the event nga walay response or walay compliance sa mga gibisita nga employers, SSS will be forced to file criminal charges against them,” he explained.