Colmenares says there is hope for SSS pension increase
2 MIN READ
By BAYAN MUNA (PR)
www.nordis.net
QUEZON CITY — On its last session on June 6, the 16th congress refused to grant outgoing Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Neri Colmenares’s appeal to reopen the voting to override President Benigno Aquino III’s veto on the Social Seurity System (SSS) Pension Hike. But he is hopeful that the incoming administration will support his bid.
With the current P1,089 daily cost of living, a P1,000 monthly pension for members with less than 10 credited years of service, P1,200 for members with more than 10 CYS, and P2,400 for members with at least 20 CYS is very low. The annual revenue of SSS, including the collection and profit from capital, is 160B pesos. Should the veto be overturned and the pension hike be passed, the P56B annual payout to pensioners would still leave more than enough for the SSS officials’ income.
The Makabayan Bloc, headed by Colmenares, during their second regular session, proposed House Bill no. 5842 which is an act mandating a two thousand pesos (P2000) increase in the monthly pension with corresponding adjustment to the minimum monthly pension under the social security system.
On June 30, 2015, congress passed the said House Bill; however, when passed to President Aquino, he vetoed it on January 12 saying that there would be “dire financial crisis” in the long run should the bill be passed.
“This is our historic chance, Mister Speaker, to grasp this opportunity to alleviate the plight of our senior citizens. I move, Mister Speaker, that we reconsider HB (House Bill) 5842 and override the veto of President Aquino,” Colmenares said.
Ilocos Norte First District Representative Rodolfo Fariñas, backed by Mandaluyong City Representative Neptali Gonzales, insisted that the motion would be useless because the senate has since been adjourned; in connection, they also said that the House of Representatives alone could not override the veto by the president. The action must be done with the senate.
Colmenares, however, insisted that the veto could still be overridden and it will not be useless because the senate could still convene since the last day of office would be on the 30th of June. Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon, Manila Representative Amado Bagatsing and Buhay Partylist Representative Lito Atienza backed Colmenares, suggesting a roll call vote in a nominal manner.
Members of the House of Representatives closed the oral discussion with a “no”, disregarding the requests for a nominal voting.
“All is not lost, however, because President-elect Duterte supports the P2000 SSS pension increase. We hope he will immediately act on the increase once he takes office in July. The battle was not in vain because it has made pension increase a national agenda and gained the support of many,” Colmenares said.
On the coming 17th congress, Colmenares said that the fight for the SSS pension will continue as Bayan Muna Partylist will refile the measure. Colmenares has high hopes that with incoming President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, when he sits as the 16th president on July 1, the pension hike will have a prominent progress.
Senior citizens and youth alike continue the call to the new president elect Duterte to override the outgoing President’s veto along with other issues that need to be addressed. # nordis.net
