Press Release
March 27, 2016

NEXT PRESIDENT SHOULD INCREASE PENSION HIKE OF SSS RETIREES WITHIN FIRST MONTH OF OFFICE - BONGBONG MARCOS

Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. today said the next president should implement a P1,000 minimum increase in pension of all Social Security Security (SSS) retirees in the first month of his or her presidency.

Marcos issued the statement after being besieged by inquiries from retirees of the private sector who have expressed their dismay over veto of President Aquino on the P2,000 SSS pension hike bill and the continued refusal to sign an executive order to grant them a provisional increase of P1,000.

"I receive many inquiries about the pension hike from our SSS pensioners and it is just lamentable that they have been ignored which is the reason why I would like to propose that the next president should grant them at least P1,000 provisional increase through an executive order while waiting for a new law for a bigger increase is passed by Congress," he stated.

Marcos further stated that such EO should be issued within the first month of the new president. "It should be issued in the first month of the next administration," he pointed out.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte earlier said a provisional increase may be effected through an executive order.

The senator also said the next president should be more discerning in appointing the new set of officers of the SSS saying the controversy brought about by the veto on the SSS pension hike measure and the mismanagement of the pension fund should be enough reason for the next president to appoint officials based on their competence and not for political considerations.

"The next president should find the best people who can run it the best for our retirees," he said.

Marcos also brushed aside allegations that lawmakers pushing for the SSS pension hike are using the issue to score political points, particularly because of the coming elections this year.

"I disagree. It's an attempt to help the people. Nagsimula yan sa bawas sa income tax, tapos eto na yung SSS---both of which were vetoed and turned down by the Palace," he said.

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