Duterte still studying SSS contribution hike, official says

January 31, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte is still studying if he would allow the increase in the contribution of members of the Social Security System (SSS), Malacanang said on Wednesday.

In a phone patch interview, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte was still thinking if the SSS contribution will be raised from 11 percent to 14 percent starting April.

"The president is still thinking and studying if he will issue an EO (executive order)," he said.

SSS chairman Amado Valdez has said his office was seeking the go-signal of the president to increase the SSS members' contribution.

According to him, the higher contribution is needed to make up for the pension rate hike that was approved by the President last year for the senior citizen pensioners.

Duterte ordered last year the SSS to increase by P2,000 the pension of senior citizens in two tranches. P1,000 was given starting March last year, while the other half will be by 2022.

Increasing the pension of the senior citizens was Duterte's campaign promise. Celerina Monte/DMS