President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government’s first pension increase under the Social Security System (SSS) Pension Reform Program underscores its commitment to provide dignity and financial relief to Filipino retirees.
Speaking at the ceremonial launch of the 2025 SSS Pension Reform Program, President Marcos announced that starting September 1, retirement and disability pensioners will receive a 10% hike in their monthly benefits, while survivorship pensioners will get a 5% increase.
Pension for qualified dependents will also rise.
“This is our way of thanking our countrymen who have spent their lives serving and working for our nation,” President Marcos said.
“Year after year, the pensions will continue to increase until 2027, without requiring any additional contributions from SSS members,” he added.
The president said the reform will benefit more than 3.8 million pensioners nationwide. Over the next three years, he added, nearly P93 billion will be released to fund the program, helping retirees pay for food, medicine and family needs.
The president stressed that the pension increases will not only aid senior citizens but also boost domestic spending and stimulate the economy.
He urged the SSS and GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) to uphold the trust of members by modernizing systems, investing wisely, and expanding services to remote areas.
“Let us protect the lifetime of work that our pensioners have built for themselves and for our country,” Mr. Marcos said, adding that social protection remains a core responsibility of the government.
The president also called on workers to continue paying their contributions on time, saying stronger social security systems depend on mutual trust between members and institutions.
