The Social Security System (SSS) formally opened its Japan Office at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo on November 28, expanding services for Filipinos residing in Japan.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, SSS Commissioner Jesus Sale Jr. and SSS International Operations Group Head Atty. Paul Erik Manalo.
“For many years, SSS teams had flown in from abroad to deliver services to our kababayans in Japan. Today, we mark a new chapter — with a dedicated office that brings these services closer and more consistently to our community,” Garcia-Albano said.
The establishment of the SSS-Japan Office further strengthens the implementation of the Philippines-Japan Social Security Agreement, which entered into force in 2018, enabling the totalization of insurance coverage and the portability of benefits for Filipinos working in Japan.
The Japan Office also participated in the government services caravan at the Philippine Festival Tokyo 2025 on November 29–30, responding to inquiries on social security number reactivation, membership record updates, and information on benefits and loan privileges.
SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes de Claro, in a message delivered by Commissioner Sale, said the office “plays a crucial role in bringing us closer to our vision of universal social security coverage for Filipinos both at home and abroad, providing convenient access to social security services and benefits.”
This is the 21st SSS Foreign Office and the fifth in the Asia-Pacific region.
Filipinos in Japan are encouraged to visit the SSS-Japan Office at the Embassy’s Consular Section by scheduling an appointment through the Embassy’s website. Services available include:
- Membership registration and updating of records
- Contribution payment inquiries
- Loan application assistance and status verification
- Guidance on benefit claims
- Acceptance of Compliance to Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) Program
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