SSS Rejects Calls to Defer Contribution Increase

Instead of postponing the increase in members' contributions this year, the Social Security System yesterday pushed for a program that subsidizes the contribution of informal economy workers and individually paying SSS members.

- By HELEN FLORES

Malacañang, meanwhile, defended the increase in SSS premiums, saying this has been "studied well."

SSS president and chief executive officer Robert Joseph de Claro pointed out that a delay in the implementation of the members' contribution hike would affect many of its members and the agency's capacity to extend assistance "in times of need."

"(M)any would be affected if this increase would be suspended," De Claro told a press briefing at Malacañang.

He explained that additional collections are used to fund various services offered by the state-run pension fund, particularly in granting calamity loans.