A party-list lawmaker on Monday called for the immediate release of what he called an “Easter Emergency Bonus” to cushion the impact of rising prices on pensioners of the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.
Rep. Rolando Ledesma Macasaet of the SSS-GSIS Pensyonado Party-list emphasized that pensioners remain among the most vulnerable sectors during the current economic pressures.
“At a time when the prices of fuel, food, and medicine continue to rise, we need quick assistance for our pensioners,” he said.
The lawmaker proposed that the emergency bonus be sourced from existing benefits, specifically the 13th-month pension of the SSS and the Christmas cash gift of the GSIS, allowing immediate relief without the need for additional funding.
He clarified that the proposal would not affect the financial stability of the pension funds.
“As the former president of both GSIS and SSS, I know there will be no effect on the fund life of the institutions if we release it now,” Macasaet assured.
Macasaet stressed that the measure is a timely and practical intervention to provide immediate assistance to retirees who depend primarily on their pensions.
“There is no need to delay this any further. This does not require any action from Malacañang or Congress. The respective boards of the SSS and GSIS already have the authority to approve and release this benefit immediately,” Macasaet added.
