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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Filipino pensioners will soon receive the increase of P1,000 on their monthly Social Security System (SSS) pension.
Both Houses of Congress are set to approve a joint resolution increasing by P2,000 the monthly pension of SSS members before the solons take a recess on Wednesday.
The resolution provides that, the P2,000 shall be given in two tranches. The amount of P1,000 shall be given starting December 2016, while the other P1,000 shall be extended to the pensioners in December 2019, it said.
Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna said the SSS pension hike would be a “welcome Christmas gift” to senior citizens and their families.
Zarate, main author of the measure in the House of Representatives, said he will push to have the 2nd tranche distributed “at the soonest times possible.”
Meanwhile, former representative Neri Colmenares lauded the SSS leadership for recognizing the need to increase the state pension.
“We are vindicated in our position that the increase is valid and doable if only SSS will institute reforms from within through increased collection and investment efficiency and trim down expensive operating cost and large bonuses for the SSS Board, to fund the pension increase without immediately resorting to contribution increase,” Colmenares said.
Colmenares principally authored the SSS pension hike bill since 2011.
Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, chairperson of the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization, said both Houses passed a joint resolution to speed up the legislative process.
“The approval and implementation of the SSS pension hike might face delay if what we will pursue is the bill,” Sacdalan said./PN
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