Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso, President and General Manager of the Philippine Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), today called upon his regional counterparts to become “master architects of trust.” He delivered his opening address as Chairman of the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA).
Speaking at the 42nd ASSA Board Meeting, Veloso introduced “The Architecture of Trust” as the central theme for the future of social security in the region.
“In the world of social security, trust is our currency,” Veloso stated. “It is the invisible foundation upon which every contribution, every claim, and every policy rests. When a teacher entrusts part of her salary to her pension fund or a widow receives her survivor’s benefit, these are acts of faith.”
He stressed that this faith demands that social security institutions act as reliable custodians of their members’ futures.
Veloso’s speech built upon the momentum from previous ASSA meetings in Manila and Palawan, where the association reaffirmed collaborative commitments, including the signing of the ASSA Sustainability Pledge. He positioned the Brunei meeting as the next critical step in their collective journey.
“If we were to visualize the Architecture of Trust, its foundation would be integrity; doing what is right even when no one is watching,” Veloso explained. “Its pillars would be transparency, accountability, and solidarity. And its roof, the protection that shelters our people, would be the collective strength of ASEAN.”
He urged the leaders to see themselves not as administrators of funds but as “custodians of hope” who design systems that provide citizens with security and confidence.
Veloso concluded with a powerful call to action. “Let us continue to be architects of trust, building structures that last beyond our tenures, beyond our lifetimes, and for the generations who will one day thank us for believing in them first.”
The 42nd ASSA Board Meeting will convene for two days. Leaders from across the region will discuss strategies to strengthen and unify their social security systems under this shared vision. (PR)
20
