BAYAN Muna partylist Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said they see a smooth approval of the P2,000 pension increase for the members of the Social Security System (SSS).
Zarate said in a phone interview he is confident that both Houses of Congress will be able to pass the bill before they go on a Christmas break on December 19.
“This bill was overwhelmingly passed during the 16th Congress but was only vetoed by former President Benigno Aquino III,” he said.
Aquino’s veto of the SSS pension increase was believed to be one of the reasons why the administration presidential candidate lost in the last elections.
President Rodrigo Duterte has been favorable to the move for the P2,000 pension increase.
Zarate said that if both Houses can pass it in December and will be signed by the President into law, its implementation could be early next year.
He also lambasted the statement of newly-appointed SSS president Amado Valdez, who said that they are considering giving the P2,000 pension increase first to those who are receiving P2,000 and less than P2,000 monthly pension and indigent pensioners.
“It sends a wrong signal,” Zarate said, adding that it has been proven that SSS can afford to give across-the-board P2,000 pension increase for its members.