Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares (PPAB)

Bayan Muna Chairman and former congressman Neri Colmenares lambasted the “scandalous disparity” between the million-peso salaries of Social Security System (SSS) officials and the “poverty-level” pensions of its members.

Citing government data, Colmenares said former SSS President/CEO Rolando Macasaet received P8.78 million annually. 

Executive vice presidents such as Elvira Resare and Rizaldy Capulong, he said, get P7.17 million and P7.08 million respectively.

Additionally, he noted that even senior vice presidents receive between P5 and 6 million yearly.

"It is revolting to see SSS officials receiving astronomical salaries while our pensioners are forced to survive on P1,200 monthly pension for 10 years of service or P2,400 for 20 years," Colmenares said in a statement.

"Nakakagalit na habang ang mga opisyal ng SSS ay naghahati-hati sa P137.9 million na taunang sahod at benefits, ang mga pensyonado natin ay P40 lang ang pang-araw-araw na budget kung may 10 years credited service, o P80 kung may 20 years,” he added.

(It's infuriating that while SSS officials are sharing annual salaries and benefits worth P137.9 million, our pensioners are barely surviving with a daily budget of P40 if they have 10 years of credited service, or P80 if they have 20 years.)

Colmenares, a labor rights advocate, said there was a 500:1 ratio between what SSS officials earn compared to what pensioners receive.

What makes things worse, according to him, is that the agency’s officials “are not even doing their jobs well”.

He pointed out that the Commission on Audit (COA) in 2023, reported that the SSS has not collected P93.7 Billion from 420,267 employers who did not remit premiums of their employees for more than five years. 

“Singilin nyo muna ang lumang mga singilin kesa mag pataw ng bagong singilin sa gitna ng mababang sahod ng ating manggagawa,” the former party-list lawmaker said.

(Collect the old dues first rather than impose new ones amid low wages of our workers.)

Colmenares is referring to the recent hike in the SSS’ contribution rates, which rose from 14 to 15 percent.

"Manhid ang SSS officials kung magtaas sila ng contribution rate sa mga miyembro habang nagpapakasarap sila sa milyun-milyong sahod,” he emphasized.

(SSS officials are insensitive if they raise the contribution rate for members while they enjoy millions in wages.)

“The sheer insensitivity is staggering. They're living luxuriously off workers' mandatory contributions while giving poverty pensions in return," he continued.

Colmenares said he is demanding a thorough audit of these “excessive salaries and benefits” while also pushing for an immediate P1,000 pension increase.

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