SSS apprehensive about releasing additional P1k for pensioners amid calamities

State-run Social Security System (SSS) said Wednesday it is not keen on implementing the second tranche of pension hike at this time despite an appeal by a party-list group representing the elderly in Congress.

SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio said the additional P1,000 monthly pension will have a negative impact on SSS’ fund life. She also cited a drop in contribution collections as a result of job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pinag-aaralan po siya dahil ang atin pong requirement sa batas ay kailangan actuarially sound ang pondo po ng SSS. And right now po, sa pag-aaral po natin ay hindi ho siya makakabuti sa pondo ng SSS in the coming years,” Ignacio said at the Laging Handa briefing.

“Sa ngayon po mina-manage na nating maigi ang pondo dahil lumiliit po ang kontribusyon.”

Last week, Senior Citizens party-list Representative Rodolfo Ordanes filed a resolution calling for the immediate release of the remaining P1,000 of a P2,000 pension increase, which was supposed to be given last year.

Ordanes said thousands of senior citizens were among the victims of calamities this year.

“Christmas is fast approaching. Many of our SSS pensioners in survival mode might not survive long enough to see their pensions come,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the pension hike in 2017.—AOL, GMA News