Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Pensioners will have to wait a little longer before they receive their much-awaited pension increase.
The expected release of the ₱1,000 pension benefit before February 15 was delayed anew.
“The reason is we need a formal instruction from the President or from Malacañang to effect the increase,” Social Security System (SSS) president Emmanuel Dooc told CNN Philippines in a phone interview.
Malacañang needs to release an Executive Order or a memorandum of approval regarding the increase for it to take effect.
As an alternative, both Senate and the House of Representatives may issue a joint resolution effecting the increase.
“I’m not giving any definite deadline but I’m hoping it will take place this month so that we can pay out the differential of P1,000 for the month of January and another differential for the month of February,” Dooc said on Sunday.
This means once Malacañang gives the formal approval, pensioners should receive an additional ₱2,000 this month, reflecting the retroactive increase of ₱1,000 in January, and another increase for February.
Read: Senate approves bill granting an extra ₱2,000 monthly to SSS pensioners
Pensioners are counting on this.
“In-e-expect ko end of February. So titingnan ko kung meron na sa Feb 28. Sana pirmahan na ni Presidente para marelease na yun… Ituloy na niya para masiyahan ang tao, ang mga pensioner,” said SSS pensioner Ernesto Lim.
[Translation: I expect to receive it (additional pension) by the end of February, so I’ll check on Feb. 28. I hope the President signs so it can be released… I hope it pushes through so pensioners will be happy.]
Read: Duterte approves P1,000 SSS pension hike
There are 2.2 million pensioners in the country.
But, with the pension increase also comes the increase in contribution of SSS members.
Read: SSS: Higher contribution with pension hike most viable option
Come May, the 11 percent in contributions will increase by 1.5 percent.
But, SSS officials say, it will only be implemented once it is formally approved by Malacanang.
