CDO poor to protest Aquino veto on SSS pension hike

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – An urban poor group was set to stage a protest here Friday in a show of dismay against President Aquino’s veto of the proposed law to increase the pension of Social Security System (SSS) members.

Francisco Pagayaman, chair of the Kalipunan ng Damayan Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Northern Mindanao, said there was no truth to the President’s claim that the SSS will be drained of its funds if the bill was signed into law.

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It’s not the increase of the monthly pension but the inefficient collection of the delinquent contributions of the more than 60,000 employers in the country that would drain the SSS coffers, Pagayaman said.

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“We condemn the heartless act of BS Aquino in not approving the P2,000-increase for SSS pensioners. We will continue to expose and oppose the deception of the Malacañang and SSS who are saying that the proposed increase is not reasonable,” he added.

Pagayaman said they were urging SSS members, pensioners and concerned citizens to join the Black Friday protest to be held at the Magsaysay Park here from 5 p.m. IDL