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Nancy Binay to SSS: Suspend contribution hike bid


Senator Nancy Binay has urged the Social Security System (SSS) to suspend its bid to hike its members' monthly contributions from 11 percent to 14 percent.

"Sana po itigil muna ng SSS ang plano nilang magtaas ng kontribusyon, at pag-aralan at humanap ng ibang options bago mag-propose ng pagtataas ng kontribusyon," she said in a statement on Sunday.

She was reacting to a plan by the SSS to increase premium contributions from the current 11 percent to 14 percent by April, later than the original plan to implement the hike by May last year.

She said the SSS has "utterly lost the high ground" by seeking to increase contribution rates when, she said, it is the agency which is responsible for "billions of unremitted and uncollected premiums from delinquent employers and non-compliant companies."

More, she said the planned contributions hike will negate any extra income gained from income tax exemptions brought about by the tax reform law.

"Kung ano man ang konting ginhawa dahil sa adjustment sa personal income tax, mawawala din dahil sa planong itaas ang SSS contribution. Ipakita muna ng SSS na tapat silang bigyan ng magandang serbisyo ang kanilang mga miyembro, habulin ang mga delinquent accounts, at bigyan tugon ang mga reklamo ng pensioners at sa mga nag-aapply ng loan—then, let's talk business," she said.

What the SSS needs, she said, is to study how to strengthen its collection system and run after establishments that "under-report" or fail to report their contributions.

"The SSS needs to reform itself and kickstart sustainable programs that will translate to better benefits, higher pensions, improved quality of customer service, and motivate members to support the pension fund. These are but small steps that will bring back the people's confidence in SSS," Binay said. — BM, GMA News