SSS chief resigns to run for House seat

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has tendered his resignation to vie for a seat in the House of Representatives in the midterm polls next year.

In a letter to President Marcos, SSS president and chief executive officer Rolando Macasaet said he is tendering his irrevocable resignation effective Nov. 15.

This is in view of the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on government officials seeking to run in the elections.

Macasaet said he is filing his certificate of nomination and acceptance as nominee of the SSS-GSIS Pensyonado (SGP) party-list on Sunday.

As such, his tenure as president and CEO of SSS involuntarily ends by operation of law.

Macasaet formally assumed office as the 20th head of SSS in January 2022.

Macasaet previously held the position of president and general manager of another state-run pension fund, Government Service Insurance System, during the last four years of the Duterte administration.

In a separate statement, SGP said Macasaet has a firm understanding of how the national pension system works, as well as the limitations of such institutions, which may be addressed through legislative representation.

As a party-list, SGP aims to promote the interests of all active members and pensioners of the SSS and GSIS as well as their beneficiaries and family members.

It also plans to provide full protection against the hazards of income loss through a strong and stable Philippine pension system.

Reelectionists

Four members of the House of Representatives are making another run at the chamber as they seek reelection next year.

They are Representatives Gerville Luistro of Batangas’ Second District, Reynante Arrogancia of Quezon province’s Third District, Kristine Alexie Tutor of Bohol’s Third District and Angelica Natasha Co, who filed her certificate of nomination and acceptance as nominee of the Barangay Health and Wellness (BHW) party-list.

According to Arrogancia, he is not yet done serving his district so he decided to seek another term in the 2025 polls. This is despite what he claimed were efforts of other candidates to unseat him.

For her part, Tutor noted she is seeking a new mandate to serve in Congress, citing her role as the chairperson of the House committee on civil service and professional regulation and her proposal to amend the governing law on the teaching profession.

“The latest amendments to the governing law on teachers will expand the teaching profession to graduates of arts and science degree programs and professionals who can expertly teach mathematics and the sciences,” she added.

Co, on the other hand, said the BHW party-list is “excited to continue pushing its barangay-level health and wellness agenda.”

She added its agenda includes “the welfare of health workers and allied specializations, maternal health, child care, children’s welfare, nutrition and social services.”

Meanwhile, John Barry Tampon, a senior high school teacher, will run as representative of the lone district of Las Piñas in the 2025 elections to represent the youth.

“I want to represent the Gen Z. The youth are complaining. There must be someone to step up coming from the younger generation because we are the future leaders of the country,” Tampon said. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Sheila Crisostomo