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[av_heading heading=’Bayan-WV presses for hike in SSS seniors’ pension’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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ILOILO City – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Western Visayas called on the Social Security System (SSS) to stop misleading the people with wrong information and instead get on with increasing the pension of senior citizens right away.
Bayan also questioned the plan of SSS to increase contributions to cater the P2,000 increase in pension.
The increase is highly questionable, said Bayan, citing party-list Bayan Muna’s bill to increase the pension based on data from the SSS itself.
According to the bill, SSS money amounting to billions of pesos can cater to the increase without increasing contributions, plus government subsidy if needed as stipulated under SSS Act of 1997.
SSS’ collection rate is only at 38 percent, according to former Bayan Muna congressman Neri Colmenares of Bacolod City.
Colmenares also cited the following as possible sources of funds:
* P198 million in foregone revenues from idle assets
* P13.5 billion in collections from delinquent employers
* balance from up to P325 billion in uncollected revenue as of 2009
* P447 billion in assets as of October 2015 that can be tapped until around 2029.
According to Bayan, if the collection is improved and these sources maximized, the increase SSS contributions will no longer be needed.
“President (Rodrigo) Duterte has already given his approval on the increase in pension but it seems the SSS is not done yet. But when it comes to their executives’ salaries and perks, the SSS administration never raises a finger,” according to Bayan in a statement.
Just last year, SSS’ 35 executives had an annual total salary of P116.8 million, said Bayan.
“It is high time we give what is due to our senior citizens. The PP1,600 to P2,900 monthly pension is not enough for our seniors’ needs like medications, and food,” stressed Bayan./PN
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