Seniors want PNoy to reconsider SSS veto

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City’s Office for Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) will convene leaders of senior citizens groups here following President Benigno Aquino III’s veto on the bill that wanted to increase the monthly Social Security System pension of retirees.

OSCA head Domingo Chavez said the next best move is to ask Aquino to reconsider the veto.

“Mag-convene pa ko and talk pa ko with the presidents of diffe-rent senior citizens charter sa city on what would be our plans. But, initially I think we will lobby and mohangyo ni PNoy nga iyang usbon,” said OSCA head Domingo Chavez.

Citing financial consequences should he sign the bill into law, Aquino vetoed House Bill 5842 or “An act mandating a P2,000 across-the-board increase in the monthly pension with corresponding adjustment of the minimum monthly pension under the Social Security System, amending for the purpose Section 12 of Republic Act No. 1661 as amended otherwise known as ‘SSS act of 1997.’”

In the city, at least 98,000 are holders of senior citizen identification cards and 70 percent of which are SSS pensioners.

“That’s really a sad news kay it is supposed to benefit over two million plus pensioners sa SSS, especially this time, ang crisis sa commodities, it’s a sad news on the part of the SSS pensioners. Unta, kung investment-wise ang alkanse, the government can subsidize,” Chavez said.

He said the senior citizens here were expecting of a positive outcome.

“Lipay kaayo pagkahibaw naa untay increase. Karon, frustrated ug dismayed kay the percentage of expectation ba kay grabe naman. Sayang man gyud. But, I think, there is a political backlash there,” he said.

Chavez said the proposed increase is realistic considering that prices of commodities have gone high. He said the proposed additional P2,000 would help him pay for electric and water bills, among others.

Romeo Mangubat, 75, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City, admits being disappointed at first with the president’s decision but said people need to look at the bigger picture.

“Pirmero gyud nga reaction, mura ka’g manuyo. Makatabang man gud na pero wala man pud ta’y mahimo kung makit-an pud nimo mas kadaot pud na ang abtan nato kung panang-litan ipadayon.”

Mangubat is the president of the Lapu-Lapu City Senior Citizens Federation.

“Ang stability man gud ang gitan-aw. Kung tinuod ni (nga naay increase), gwapo gyud ni kaayo ba,” Mangubat said

There are 19,400 senior citizens registered in Lapu-Lapu City.

“Kinahanglan man gyud. Mahulog ra man sad nga suwerte kaayo ta ba nga ato nalang gyud side ang atong tan-awon? Mutanaw man gyud ta sa kinadak-an. Magpaabot lang gyud ta no, ug kung pananglitan masayop ang president nato nga mi-decide siya og ingun ana, mahimo man nga ma-veto sa congress, mao man gyud na ang trabaho ana nila,” Mangubat said.

Controlled by the national government, the SSS has around 31 million members nationwide. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Christell Fatima M. Tudud/JMO (FREEMAN)