SSS exec willing to return P1M bonus - TUCP

MANILA, Philippines - A labor representative to the Social Security System is willing to return the P1- million bonus given to her as an incentive, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said on Friday.

TUCP spokesperson Allan Tanjusay said Commissioner Dr. Marianita Mendoza has expressed willingness to return the cash bonus the SSS has given her.

"Willing naman siyang ibalik 'yon (bonus) pero may mga proseso pa kasing pagdadanan 'yan," Tanjusay said.

The SSS hogged the headlines after the reported P1 million bonus each to its officials based on its performance in the previous years.

The SSS commissioner is the wife of TUCP president Democrito Mendoza.

The TUCP maintains that while the giving of performance bonus may be legally justifiable by the performance incentives system set by the Governance Commission for Government -owned and controlled corporation (GCG), but the group deems it as inappropriate, Tanjusay said.

"The TUCP finds it insensitive for SSS officials to give themselves monetary incentives at a time they said the SSS fund is shrinking and that the SSS actuarial fund is only good until 2039," he added.

In April this year, SSS officials sought the TUCP and other groups in convincing 12 million members to accept an increased SSS monthly premium payment from 10.4 percent to 11 percent starting January next year.

The TUCP gave its support to the plan because it will help improve the life span of the SSS fund.

The labor group added that the planned hike will increase the membership benefits, a 10 percent across-the-board increase in pension rate among retirees, improved active members’ access to claims, and run after delinquent employers who failed to remit employees’ contribution.

The TUCP supported the plan to increase the SSS premium payment provided that more workers can be covered, collection rate should be improved, make operations more efficient and transparent, and investments must not only yield but also be safe.

The SSS officials' salaries and benefits reasonable and not excessive, the labor group said.

The giving of such bonuses, however, was not discussed in any of the consultation process, the TUCP said.TUCP said.