Or is it the other way around: Poverty in the midst of plenty?
This is the time to recall the words of British novelist (later Prime Minister) Benjamin Distraeli about England in 1845: “There are two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy, who are as ignorant of each other’s habits, thoughts, and feelings as if they dwell in different zones or inhabitants of different planets, who are formed by different breeding, are fed by different food, are observing different manners, divergent moral codes, and are not governed by the same laws — the rich and the poor.”
The public outrage over the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) are not over, and yet, who has read the news without feeling horrified that the Social Security System president/Chief Executive Officer and six commissioners recently got P1million each as bonuses for alleged good performance? What?!
Saan kaya sila humuhogot ng kapal-mukha at lakas na gawin yan?! (Where could they be getting the effrontery and gall and guts to do this?!)
Did we not hear the same exclamation from P-Noy in his latest State of the Nation address?
What will justify this objectionable windfall? SSS is engaged in managing the mandatory contributions of all its members — employers and employees who are required by law to pay their premiums. It is tasked by law to guard and take care of these hard-earned funds, in trust solely to provide retirements benefits, health care funding, educational loans, emergency loans etc., under strict guidelines.
P-Noy himself announced that the SSS had unfunded liability which ballooned to P1 trillion more or less in 2011, and the unfunded liability to increase by 8 per cent per year. This is the reason given why the 29 million workers have to give an increased premium of 0.6 per cent starting 2014.
So why the bonuses to themselves at the expense of the members?
Would private businessmen allow their executives to receive bonuses if their business had unfunded liabilities amounting to trillions?
SSS members are the owners of the funds in SSS: How do they feel about this?
Daily Star columnist Federico Pascual published his personal experience when he was reported dead, and his benefits claimed in the SSS records. He asked: How can this happen if there is no syndicate inside SSS?!
Personally, I had one client who had the same experience; it is so difficult to re-establish that one is not dead.Until now, SSS has not acted on the case.
Another client received notice that she will receive only half of her years of service due to alleged non-remittance. Because my client is meticulous about her records, we personally went to the SSS main office in Quezon City. We were able to get to the top because the SU high school classmate of my daughter was the secretary to the head.
What about you? Have you verified your SSS or GSIS records? This is a warning! Check on it now or your future benefits may have gone to the bonuses of the administrators. Or to the syndicate!
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Author’s email: whelmayap@yahoo.com
