My day at the SSS Office
January 23rd, 2010 by Rochelle
Long queues are a normal sight in government offices here in Pinas (the Philippines) so I wasn’t surprised at all to see exactly that at the SSS (Social Security System) Office in Marikina last Wednesday, the day our house was ransacked. Though there were five counters serving that day for different transactions (verification, membership forms submission, loans, etc) there was only one long queue. Those who only wanted some verifications (like in my case) had to fall in line with all the others who had different concerns such as loans, etc. Hence, all five counters didn’t accommodate customers simultaneously, they actually waited for one transaction to be finished before they called in the next person in line even if that person had to be in a different counter. Preposterous, right? What a waste of time.
I wonder why the management wasn’t able to correct something as elementary as this. Poor, slow process. Worse, the guy at the Information Counter was very arrogant. Before falling in line, people would naturally make sure that they’re doing the right thing and that they have the appropriate forms, right? Or else, they’ll have to start all over again and the queue was not a joke! The Information Counter is there to serve that purpose – to provide information, right? So why would the information guy get pissed when asked? The old man beside me wanted to verify some issues and the information guy couldn’t hide his annoyance. He was saying “Opo” (yes) in a mocking way, with his voiced raised, even before the old man finished talking. He was clearly giving the old man a clue that he should stop asking questions because it was annoying him. Such a blatant display of disrespect. I should have reported that guy to his superior. Grrr!
Anyway, I finally got an SSS certification in lieu of my lost SSS ID so now, I’m practically done with all my pre-employment requirements — at long last!
- 6 Comments »
- Posted in Random Thoughts
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:05 pm
The disrespect shown the older gentlemen is intolerable. I hate to see this in the Philippines, where I think it is rare, or anyplace else. I know my wife had to endure long lines everywhere she went in Manila to get her original visa to the US. Too bad someone doesn’t implement a better system.
January 23rd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
that was sad Rochelle, but I have been in similar situations here in US at our own Phil Consulate, I thought before they can be my home away from home, but sadly they turned me away to consider them even my home
I still love my country but somehow I am frustrated sometimes with how the people serving the government had so much arrogance in treating others.
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Dave,I really don’t understand why a lot of our government offices don’t have efficient systems nor good customer service. =(
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Even there, Betchai? Sucks, right?
January 24th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
My experience with SSS Marikina is love/hate at times. There are times that everything goes smoothly but there are times that that particular information guy is really rude. But sometimes he’s nice enough to even lend his liquid eraser. But an advice though, don’t apply for an SSS ID in that branch. My in-laws went there and they have to go to the main office just to get their photos taken and by schedule for that matter. Daddy K and I had our ID applied in their Cubao branch, it took two months for us to receive the idea but the processing was done in less than an hour.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:51 am
Well maybe he didn’t feel good, or was just having a bad day. Still not very nice, but hopefully he does not have t hat attitude every day. Like it isn’t bad enough to stand in line for a long time, and then get a jerk to wait on you.