13/05/2026
SSS Tagum Branch Officially Opens Full‑Time Maragusan Service
Office.
In a significant step toward enhancing service accessibility in Davao de Oro, the Social Security System (SSS) Tagum Branch formally inaugurated the SSS Maragusan Service Office through an inaugural blessing and ribbon‑cutting ceremony held on May 7, 2026, at the MAGROW MPC Compound in Maragusan, Davao de Oro.
The establishment of the Service Office is the culmination of a decade-long partnership between SSS Tagum and the Maragusan Growers Multipurpose Cooperative (MAGROW MPC). Driven by a shared mission to serve the people of Maragusan and neighboring municipalities, the new office eliminates the
need for members to travel over an hour to Tagum City, offering significant savings in time, money, and effort.
Originally established in 2015 as a Representative Office during the tenure of former Branch Head Jose Catoto, the Maragusan facility previously operated only two days a week. As transaction volumes increased and demand for SSS services continued to grow, the limited schedule proved insufficient to meet the needs of the community. Responsive to this growing demand, the SSS Tagum Branch undertook strategic measures to upgrade the facility into a full‑time Service Office operating daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
The conversion was spearheaded by Imelda A. Guerra, Branch Head II of SSS Tagum Branch, whose leadership and advocacy were instrumental in advancing the agency’s mandate to expand social security coverage to all sectors, including geographically isolated and underserved areas. The initiative was realized through the strong support of SSS management and the continued cooperation of MAGROW MPC.
During the ceremony, Gilbert Golo, General Manager of MAGROW MPC, expressed appreciation for the upgraded service office, citing its importance to a municipality with 24 barangays and a population exceeding 67,000, based on the 2024 census. He underscored that the daily operations of the Service Office now allow residents to register as new SSS members, reactivate inactive accounts, and access SSS services without the burden of traveling over an hour to Tagum City.
The inaugural ceremony was highlighted by a symbolic ribbon‑cutting led by senior SSS executives and local partners, including:
SSS Executives
• Lilani B. Benedian, MD – Senior Vice President, Mindanao Operations Group
• Mary Ellen A. Estoque – Vice President, Mindanao South 1 Division
• Imelda A. Guerra – Branch Head II, SSS Tagum Branch
• Emeralda N. Cruz – Junior Technical Assistant, representing Antonio S. Agrabioso, EVP for Branch Operations Sector
MAGROW MPC and Local Government
• Gilbert Golo – General Manager, MAGROW MPC, also representing Chairman Arcadio S. Sabella
• Maris Colina – Representative of Municipal Mayor Cesar C. Colina Sr.
The SSS Tagum–Maragusan Service Office is now fully operational and equipped to handle various SSS transactions. It is managed by a dedicated frontline team headed by Shiela C. Mangubat, Acting SSO III/Senior Member Service Representative, with support from James Bryan L. Bacaron, Junior Member Service Representative.
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