Former SSS chief Teodoro Sr. dies, 80

MANILA, Philippines – Former Social Security System (SSS) administrator Gilberto Teodoro Sr., father and namesake of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., succumbed yesterday to a lingering illness. He was 80.

Defense spokesman Nelson Victorino said the elder Teodoro died from multiple organ failure while being treated at the Makati Medical Center early yesterday.

Teodoro is remembered as “Mr. No” during the administration of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos for protecting SSS funds from government interference.

This earned Teodoro the distinction as the best SSS administrator the country has ever had in his 20 years of service.

It was during his stint that the SSS achieved its best ever performance, including the implementation of the Philippine Medicare Act and other significant policies, expanding its coverage and increasing the social security benefits of members.

Teodoro Sr.’s integrity and prudent management style and keen eye for investment ensured that the pension fund of SSS members was tremendously enhanced, secured, properly managed and, more importantly, insulated from any undue political influence.

Also during his watch, SSS emerged as the most profitable government corporation in the country during the 1980s.

Aside from being an SSS administrator, Teodoro, who holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Georgetown University in Washington DC, had been actively involved in other undertakings of international organizations.

He worked as a statistical clerk at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Washington from 1949 to 1951 and earned the distinction as one of the first Filipino employees of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

From there, Teodoro rose to become an economist, in charge of the Philippine desk.

In 1960, Teodoro became Special Assistant to the Presiding Officer of the Monetary Board and concurrently the Officer-in-Charge of the Foreign Loans and Investment Department of the Central of the Philippines.

Teodoro’s contribution to government service also emphasized his genuine concern to serve and alleviate the plight of the working man, as one of the founders of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

Through the years, DAP has constantly provided valuable training to government and private employees.

“His personal integrity, moral rectitude, and fealty to the principle of public office being a public trust is well known and serves as a standard for public servants,” said the statement of the Defense Department.

The late SSS administrator earned his right to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, having served as a reserve officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with a rank of full colonel.

The 80-year-old Teodoro is survived by his wife, Mercedes Cojuangco Teodoro, Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr., daughter-in-law Tarlac Rep. Monica Prieto Teodoro and grandson Jaime Gilberto.