After being imposed in 2017, the Social Security System (SSS) has yet to issue the 2nd tranche increase of its members’ pensions worth P1,000.
SENIOR CITIZENS Party-list Representative Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes cannot help but express his dismay after learning that the reason why SSS has failed to provide the pension hike was because it would result to a 7 year decrease in the insurance program’s fund life.
Around 2.5 million SSS pensioners receive an average amount of P4,960 monthly.
With the raise in store, Ordanes believes that it could serve as the silver lining among beneficiaries amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Nakakadismaya ho ito dahil sa kabila ng kahirapan na dinaranas ng ating SSS pensioners ngayong panahon ng pandemya ay pinagkukuriputan rin sila ngayon. Lalo na at marami naman pong ibang paraan para pahabain ang buhay ng SSS ng hindi pinapahirapan ang ating mga pensioners,” he said.
“Kaya ho nanawagan ako ulit sa SSS na i-release na ang PhP 1,000 SSS pension increase at itigil na ang paghihirap na dinaranas ng ating 2.5 million na SSS pensioners,” Ordanes added.
Ordanes also pointed out while some of the pensioners stopped receiving their benefits since 2019, others have not received theirs for two years now.
Calling on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the congressman urged authorities to reach out to him so they could resolve the issue.
“Maliit na halaga po ang PhP 500 subalit napakalaking bagay ang tulong na ibinibigay nito sa ating mga indigent senior citizens na kahit paano ay magkakaroon ng dagdag na PhP 500 para sa gastusin nila kada buwan,” Ordanes stated.
“Kaya po nanawagan ulit ako sa DSWD na makipagtulungan sa aking opisina para maibigay ng maayos at sa tamang oras ang social pension ng ating mga senior citizens,” he appealed.