Neri Colmenares, main author of bill increasing pension of SSS retirees by P2,000 a month, says SSS has P325 billion uncollected revenues. From Philippine Star.
One was telling the other about the commentaries of DZMM’s Ted Failon which she fully agreed. “Bakit nila binigyan ang sarili nila ng bonus na P1 milyon tig-isa kapag Pasko kung wala pa lang pera para sa mga miembro?”
The lady said bonuses are given as reward for good performance but the she cited the report of the Commission on Audit that the SSS owns many assets that are idle that have resulted in losses amounting to over a hundred million pesos yearly.
“Bad management yun. Bakit sila may bonus?” the lady asked to which the other one senior citizen fully agreed.
ABS-CBN reported that among the properties owned by the SSS are 102 condominium units in seven condominium buildings in the National Capital Region; 44,000 square meters of office space, 16 residential houses and 69 parking lots, all valued at P17.956 billion.
The idle status of the assets means that the SSS is “(deprived) of an estimated P198.118 million in a year when occupied/rented, computed based on the lowest rental rate of lessees in the condominium units, office/store spaces, houses or parking lots,” ABS-CBN quoted the COA report.
On top of these, COA also found more idle properties of SSS in Mindanao, particularly the 15 units in Pryce Tower condominium located in Pryce Business Park, J.P Laurel, Bajada, Davao City.
SSS also acquired Pryce Tower’s parking slots, as well as 663 units of memorial lots in various measurements in Mt. Apo Garden Memorial Lots in Barangay Calinan, Davao.
“The idle/unoccupied properties incurred fixed costs such as association dues, electricity and water bills, repairs and maintenance, and manpower without any return on invested capital,” COA said.
After buying their medicines the senior citizens said, “Pinapanalangin ko na lang na matuloy ang ating increase sa pension.”
SSS President and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr No hike in the remaining month of Aquino administration. Photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer.
So what happens then to President Aquino’s statement after criticized heavily for the veto that he ordered a study on a P500 increase instead of the P2, 000.
He was quoted as having said, “May benefits na inaaral. Kaya ba natin ang P500? Pag dinagdagan natin ng, let’s say, P500, babawasan naman natin ‘yung life ng ating pondo. Ngayon, pinapasigurado ko sa kanila ‘yung computation.“
De Quiros said they are studying an increase of a smaller amount but he is concerned that it would be politicized if it is given within the remaining months of the Aquino administration because of the coming election in May.
He said in a press conference:”We are always studying ways and means to improve the benefits. My concern is if we do it now and it’s an election year, what would people think? It’s under study but we need to look at it from that point of view.”
Why would his concern about the issue getting politicized override the welfare of the pensioners? And we are paying him P4.2 million a year plus P1 million bonus to give us this crap!
No wonder Malacanang no longer talks about the P500 peso alternative increase.
Na-gudtime na tayo sa P2,000. Na-gudtime pa rin sa P500.
From Renato Reyes’ FB post.