President Rody Duterte last night vowed to reform the Social Security System (SSS) and ordered the arrest and prosecution of employers who do not remit the SSS contributions of their workers.
The President said reforms in the SSS will have to be implemented so he could fulfil his commitment of giving old retirees additional pension funds.
“File charges and arrest them,” President Duterte said after he was informed during a briefing by SSS officials led by its new chairman Amado Valdez that only per 40% of the 33 million SSS members are paying their premiums.
The President also ordered that excessive allowances and honorarium given to top SSS officials be stopped as part the measures to streamline and ensure the viability of the agency.
“I made the commitment during the campaign and after the elections that I will give the ageing SSS members additional pension for them to buy their medicines in their old age,” he said.
President Duterte said he will not renege on his commitment but added that he also has to listen to the advice of the economic managers of government to ensure the viability and survival of the SSS.
The Cabinet discussion on the SSS premium was long and intense and lines were drawn between the group of economic managers and secretaries identified with progressive groups.
In the end, President Duterte decided to fulfil his commitment of additional pension for the retirees but only after reforms to ensure the viability of the SSS have been implemented.
Congress has submitted to President Duterte a resolution seeking a P2,000 increase on the SSS pension of retirees.
President Duterte said he is inclined to grant a two-tiered increase to soften the financial impact on the SSS.
(Photo shows Cabinet meeting last night. Other photos downloaded from Google.)
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