Two militant lawmakers on Tuesday urged President Benigno Aquino III to sign into law the proposed measure providing for the P2,000 across-the-board increase on Social Security System pension.
Congressmen Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna said time is running out on the enactment of House Bill 5842 which stands to benefit millions of SSS members and pensioners.
The bill was passed on third reading by the House of Representatives as early as June 9, 2015, and was adopted by the Senate on Nov. 9, 2015. It was transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s signature mid-December, said the two lawmakers and principal authors of the measure.
Zarate said he hoped the President would sign the measure into law before he steps down on June 30.
“An increase in the SSS pension is long overdue, and, we strongly urge President Aquino to sign the pension hike immediately. The very low minimum pension violates the mandate of the SSS of promoting social justice and provide meaningful protection for its members,” Colmenares, a House deputy minority leader, said.
Colmenares authored the same measure in the 15th Congress in 2011 that was co-authored by then congressman Teddy Casiño, also of Bayan Muna.
“Today’s minimum pension of P1,000-1,200, or even the P2,400 for those who contributed for 20 years, is way below the mark of meeting the needs of our senior citizens. It is not enough to buy food, pay bills, or, buy the maintenance medicines that most of our seniors need,” Colmenares said.
Colmenares cited the findings of independent think tank Ibon Foundation that said a member of a family of six in NCR needs at least P5,033 a month for its basic needs.
“This P2,000 increase in pension will at least lift the income of our seniors nearer the mark. We cannot overemphasize enough how important this pension increase is to our seniors. It is a matter of survival for the 1,528,269 pensioners,” Colmenares added.
Zarate said that the pension hike bill had already surpassed many hurdles before reaching the Malacañang desk.
“Originally, we proposed a P5,000-pension increase believing that this amount is more appropriate considering today’s prices of commodities and the rising cost of basic utilities. Eventually, it got whittled down to P2,000 after congressional deliberations. Even with this slashed amount, the bill still squeezed through a needle’s eye before making it to the Senate,” Zarate said.
The SSS itself seemed determined to block the bill from passing, claiming it would result to the agency’s bankruptcy, Zarate added.
“The SSS leadership became a stumbling block, too, as it raised unfounded bankruptcy claims if the bill passes. The obsession of the SSS to increase its fund life—which is already beyond 14 years—is trampling on its mandate to provide social justice and protection for its members. Yet, the people, particularly our senior citizens, cannot be deluded by their scare tactic of bankruptcy,” Zarate added.
“For the sake of our pensioners, we hope that the bill will pass its final hurdle. As 2016 starts, President Aquino can certainly make a very good news for our senior citizens by finally setting his hand on HB 5842,” Zarate added.