Press Release
February 22, 2017

Statement of Sen. Cynthia Villar on President Duterte's approval to raise the pension of SSS members

I welcome President Duterte's go signal to release the additional P1,000 in the pension of the 1.9 million Social Security System (SSS) pensioners retroactive from January 2017. As previously announced, another P1,000-hike will be implemented by 2022.

It can be recalled that late last year, the Senate has approved the bill granting SSS pensioners a P2,000 increase in their monthly pension. This shows that the Duterte administration and Congress are united in giving back what is due to the elderly.

Given the rising cost of food, services and medicine, there is no doubt that the cost of living being faced by pensioners has enormously grown. An increase in the monthly pension is necessary in order to help provide for the well-being of the country's retirees.

I reiterate my appeal to SSS officials to improve their collection efficiency, consider government subsidy, and to implement a sound investment program in order to improve the benefits provided to 33 million SSS members.

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