Senators Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
If he does not want a law granting a P2,000 increase in the pensions of Social Security System (SSS) members, President Benigno Aquino III could come up with a compromise that would offer relief to pensioners while keeping the agency financially viable, senators said on Thursday.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, one of the sponsors of the bill, said Mr. Aquino could consider a P1,000 increase in the pension, which is half of what was proposed in the vetoed bill.
“SSS income is sufficient for half,” Recto said in a text message.
He also said the President could recommend an amount that he thought was suitable and could be supported by SSS finances, and convey this for possible implementation to the SSS board, whose members are his appointees.
“This increase can be enforced by an SSS board resolution. Raising the pension is not just via the legislative route. It can also be done by the President exerting influence on the SSS. Congress only stepped in with this measure because SSS froze pension amelioration measures,” he said in a separate statement.
Compromise
According to Recto, the SSS law allows Mr. Aquino to adopt a compromise by taking executive action. It is time to increase SSS pensions, he said.
“For the sake of the pensioners, it should not be a choice between having something or nothing,” he said.
Congress could override the President’s veto, but it would be difficult to get the two-thirds vote necessary to do so, Recto further said.
Sen. Sonny Angara, chair of the ways and means committee, also said the President could take action to help the SSS pensioners.
“Going forward, perhaps a compromise formula can be developed which increases pensions but also addresses sustainability issues. At this stage it may be too late for executive action but nothing prevents executive action,” Angara said in a text message.
Saddened by veto
Sen. Grace Poe said she was saddened by the veto as there was no doubt about the need to raise pensions while keeping the SSS viable.
If the P2,000 increase is not feasible, she wants to know what alternative amount should be set for the increase, said Poe.
“My challenge to the SSS board is for them to provide a concrete alternative because I think there are enough funds to provide additional benefits,” she said in a text message.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, a sponsor of the bill, said she was pinning her hope for the bill in the next Congress.
Villar does not think the SSS board would approve a compromise amount.
“For us, a small increase is better than nothing, but I doubt if it will come from them. It’s the management of the SSS that does not want the increase,” she said in a phone patch interview with reporters.
She also said some 1.9 million pensioners would be saddened by the President’s veto.
Effect on candidates
Asked if his decision would affect the administration’s candidates in the next elections, Villar said she thought this would be the case.
She noted that the pensioners were looking forward to the increase and were always asking her about it. The veto came as a surprise, she added.
As for concerns about the SSS’ financial viability, Villar said the effect of the pension increase would be felt in 2029, which is a long time into the future.
“We have seen that there is room to raise the money. Since that would be in 2029, why don’t we try to improve collections and operations?” she said.
A stronger economy would lead to a stronger SSS, because there would be more employed people and thus more collections, she added.
Drilon
Senate President Franklin Drilon said he respected Mr. Aquino’s veto as it was within his prerogative to do so.
Drilon said that despite Congress’ difference of opinion with the President on this issue, he was sure the executive was looking for other ways to help the pensioners.
“We may have a different opinion with the President on this particular matter, but I am confident that the executive branch is looking into other alternatives that will help the pensioners, without compromising the viability of the SSS as an institution tasked by the State to establish, develop, promote and perfect a sound and viable tax-exempt social security system suitable to the needs of the people,” he said in a statement.
Drilon said that despite the veto, the Senate would continue to pass measures that it thought were critical and would improve the lives and welfare of the people.
“The Senate will not be hindered by this veto. We will look at it again and we will work hard to perfect the bill and finally give the people what they so deserve,” he said.
He also noted that the SSS pension increase bill was the first measure that Mr. Aquino had vetoed as far as the 16th Congress was concerned.
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