House approves SSS pension hike bill

SCREENGRAB from www.sss.gov.ph

The ball is now in the Senate after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill mandating a P2,000 across-the-board increase in monthly Social Security System (SSS) pension.

House Bill 5842 seeks to amend Republic Act 1161, as amended by RA 8262, otherwise known as the “Social Security Act of 1997,” increasing the present minimum monthly pension of P1,200 to P3,200 for retirees with at least 10 years of credited service.

The bill also seeks to increase the present monthly pension of P2,400, for those with 20 years of credited service, to P4,400.

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, the main author, lauded the passage of the bill which he said would enable retirees and senior citizens to afford their basic necessities through a higher SSS pension.

“A large number of SSS pensioners have further suffered difficulties owing to the continuing escalation of the cost of living in the country, which is due, in large part, to the downturn of the global economy. The amount that these retirees receive as their monthly pension pays much less,” Colmenares said in a statement.

Bayan Muna’s bill which saw passage is an amended version of the original House Bill 175, which seeks a P5,000 monthly pension for SSS members with at least 10 years of credited service.

Co-authors of approved bill are Reps. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate (Party-list, Bayan Muna), Mark A. Villar (Las Piñas City), Jesus N. Sacdalan (1st District, North Cotabato), Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Cresente C. Paez (Party-list, COOP NATCCO), Agapito H. Guanlao (Party-list, BUTIL), Edgardo R. Masongsong (Party-list, 1 CARE), Leah S. Paquiz (Party-list, ANG NARS) and Antonio L. Tinio (Party-list, ACT TEACHERS).

The House in the 15th Congress was also able to pass a similar Bayan Muna bill which seeks to increase the minimum SSS pension by P1,000-P2,000 but the Senate failed to pass it.