Nationwide rally set vs PNoy’s veto

CEBU, Philippines - A nationwide rally outside all SSS offices will be held on January 28 to fight for the P2,000 pension hike for all retiree members of the agency, which has been vetoed by President Benigno Aquino III. 

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, principal author of House Bill No. 5842 which grants a P2,000-hike in the pension of retirees, said the Black Friday protest  hopes to urge legislators and senators to override the veto of Aquino.

Colmenares, who was in Cebu yesterday, said that senior citizens, as well as cause-orien-ted groups, labor groups and other sectors will be joining the nationwide protest.

Aquino vetoed the bill reportedly to protect SSS from being bankrupt.

However, Colmenares said SSS won’t be bankrupt even if it provides the P2,000 additional pension to retirees.

“Hindi ma-bankrupt ang SSS. The Philippine government is the guarantor of the pension,” said Colmenares before students of Southwestern University, whom he also urged to ask their respective congressmen to sign the draft bill that will override the veto of the president.

To override the veto of the president, the bill would need 217 votes of members from the House of Representatives and 16 votes from the Senate.

A number of senior citizens also met with Colmenares to discuss the rally.

 “Nag-promise sila na they are going to campaign sa 28, na may rally sa tapat ng SSS. Tingin ko, maipakita naman nila sa mga tao yung demand,” Colmenares said.

Domingo Chavez, head of Cebu City Hall’s Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, said there are plenty of solutions to answer the problem.

 “Why not decrease huge bonuses of the government officials?” Chavez asked. — (FREEMAN)