MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 6, 2013) – The Social Security System continues to rake criticisms for fat bonuses – P286 million – that went to the Board of Directors and employees of the state-run pension fund.
Rep. Neri Colmenares, who is the House senior deputy minority leader, said this happened as the SSS is set to hike its membership premium, claiming that it does not have enough funds to cover retirement and other benefits beyond the year 2039.
“Ang kakapal naman ng mukha ng Board of Directors ng SSS, hirap na hirap na nga ang mga pensioners nila sa napakababang nakukuhang pension, isama pa na dagdagan ang singil sa premium tapos ngayon ay kumukubra pa sila ng napakalaging mga bonus. Hindi ba sila nahihiya?” he asked.
Colmenares blamed President Benigno Aquino for the SSS premium increase because at his last State of the Nation Address, he pushed for the supposed need to increase the premium instead of the pension.
“This belittles the sufferings of our senior citizens who are pensioners,” he said, adding Aquino made it look like that SSS was in dire straits but the fact is it has the figures which do not call for a premium increase – their assets and investments which amounted to P345 billion in 2010; their yearly income of P21-23 billion; the collectibles of P8.5 billion; and the perks and bonuses that the SSS management receive which should be subjected to scrutiny.
“Recall the P200 million that SSS executives received in 2010, kailangan pa nga bawiin yun, tapos ngayon ay P286 million naman. Let’s not even mention the overcharging they did for members’ loans in 2011. It is the efficiency of the SSS management that really has to be increased to prolong the fund life of SSS,” Colmenares said. “President Aquino should instead support House Bill 175, increasing the SSS pension. HB 175 reflects the real clamor of the pensioners who are our senior citizens.”
The eight members of the Board of Directors got P10 million while the rest were distributed to employees, but Emilio de Quiros, who is SSS president and CEO, said there was nothing illegal in the granting of the 2012 bonus because it is performance-based incentive system which is being allowed on all government-owned and controlled corporations.
The SSS has 29 million members.
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