[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’No SSS pension hike ‘demoralizing’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
Saturday, January 7, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#0a0a0a’]
BACOLOD City – A labor group criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for not approving the proposed P2,000 Social Security System (SSS) pension increase.
That Duterte failed to fulfill a campaign promise was “very demoralizing,” especially since senior citizens trusted that he will make good on it, an official of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) claimed.
“His reason was the same with that of former president Benigno Aquino III — that the SSS will go bankrupt if he signs the pension hike,” said Secretary-General Wennie Sancho.
Because of this, Duterte’s credibility among the elderly Filipinos has “eroded,” the GAWA leader said, adding that an increased SSS pension could greatly help senior citizens with their basic everyday needs.
“It was a wrong move,” said Sancho. “It was divisive. [Duterte] gave senior citizens a false hope. … Duterte was inconsistent.”
As former employees, retired senior citizens have “contributed greatly to society” and not only because they were paying taxes, he said.
Meanwhile former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares, author of the original bill seeking the pension hike, does not believe the SSS will go bankrupt if the pension is increased.
“My original bill [stated] P7,500,” said Colmenares, a Negrense. “It was lowered to P2,000, then there was a compromise with the administration for P1,000 in January and another P1,000 in 2019, and we agreed.”/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
