SSS EVP Agas appointed as new OIC

The Social Security System (SSS) on Monday announced the appointment of its Executive Vice President Atty. Voltaire Agas as the officer-in-charge, marking the second leadership change in a week.

Agas, who leads branch operations, was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as OIC of the state-run pension fund in a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin dated October 17.

He replaced Commissioner Robert Joseph De Claro, who was designated as OIC by the Social Security Commission (SSC) effective October 11, 2024. De Claro will remain a member of the SSC, representing the employers’ group.

Agas began his career at the SSS as its chief legal counsel in 2012, which he held until 2022. He then started to oversee all SSS branch operation activities nationwide from March 2022, including membership expansion programs, contribution collections, and benefit processing.

“He is a seasoned public servant with more than three decades of government service in various capacities… He is the first career official coming from the ranks of the SSS to be designated to serve as its OIC,” the SSS said.

Agas obtained his law degree from the San Beda University, and served in the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the National Prosecution Service. He was also a trial judge in Quezon City.

Prior to taking up public office, Agas was also a socio-economist in community development projects under the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

The appointment of Agas is the second leadership change since former SSS president and chief executive officer Rolando Macasaet stepped down on October 6, 2024.

The agency reported three million new members from January to September this year, more than double the number of new members onboarded in the same period in 2023.

Under its mandate, the SSS is tasked to promote social justice and provide protection to members and families against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden.—AOL, GMA Integrated News