Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. PHOTO BY KING RODRIGUEZ/INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO
Vice presidential aspirant and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has joined other lawmakers in urging Congress to override President Benigno Aquino III鈥檚 veto on the proposed Social Security System (SSS) pension hike.
READ: Congress urged to override Aquino鈥檚 veto on pension hike
A veto override requires a two-thirds vote of both the Senate and the House of Representative, voting separately.
In a statement on Thursday, Cayetano said 鈥渋t is incumbent upon the legislative branch, particularly to all those who supported and signed the bill, to override the president鈥檚 veto.鈥�
READ: Aquino urged to consider alternatives to help SSS pensioners
鈥淲e must demonstrate our strong resolve in advancing the welfare of ordinary people and show that we are the people鈥檚 voice and not just a rubber stamp of Malacanang,鈥� he said.
鈥淪ocial security is meant to help our pensioners after their retirement cope with the costs of living without their regular salaries. But what good is social security if what they get is so low and cannot even meet their barest needs,鈥� added Cayetano.
Last Tuesday, Aquino vetoed House Bill No. 5842, which grants a P 2,000 pension hike for SSS members.
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He defended such move by saying that the stability of the 31 million SSS members would be 鈥渟eriously compromised鈥� in favor of two million pensioners and their dependents.
Cayetano, however, said that they already made the necessary computations and found out that the pension hike is possible.
READ: Aquino explains veto: SSS viability in danger听
Citing the yearly reports of the SSS, the senator said the agency 鈥渋s profitable鈥� so it could 鈥渁bsorb the pension hike.
鈥淚t has more funds that it is investing and disbursing, and it has investments in various large companies. Moreover, it is enjoying a continuing rise in membership, which also increases revenues generated from members鈥� contributions,鈥� said Cayetano.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I don鈥檛 understand the reason behind the veto. Instead of helping our people especially the vulnerable such as the elderly, the sick and the unemployed get out of the bottom barrel, they want to keep them there. Sobra-sobra na ang hirap nila (Their suffering is just too much),鈥� he added.
Cayetano, who is the running mate of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, said they would prioritize the SSS pension hike if elected in the 2016 elections.
鈥淎ng kailangan ng mamamayan ay tunay na pagbabago na nakabatay sa matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon,鈥� he said.
(What the citizens need are real change based on courageous solutions and urgent response.)
As part of their platform 鈥渢o promote equality under the law and genuine inclusive growth,鈥� Cayetano said they would ensure that ordinary Filipinos would 鈥渆njoy the full benefits from the government.鈥�
鈥淲e will provide working people with a living wage, double their benefits, and guarantee that the government promotes the welfare of the population through sustainable assistance measures,鈥� he said. RAM