Senator Joel Villanueva filed a bill seeking to postpone the implementation of the 1% contribution hike for Social Security System (SSS) members.
“In the event of a pandemic, the increase in contribution rate… shall be suspended, and thereafter, the mandated increase shall be implemented on the year following the cessation of the pandemic,” the proposed law reads.
“All succeeding increases in contribution shall be implemented in the following years accordingly,” it added.
The senator explained that Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018 originally requires the staggering increase of SSS contribution every two years until it reaches 15% by 2025.
“Gusto natin na mag-status quo na lang po tayo for this year alone, 2021,” he said during a Laging Handa press briefing.
“Nakita po natin kaya naman ho sapagkat noong 2019 ang nakolekta ng SSS ay P220 billion at doon sa 2019 na net revenue mayroon silang P55.7 billion… Kaya pa rin po at magsu-survive naman for one year itong ating SSS,” he added.
In December, SSS announced it would implement a 13 percent increase in its members’ monthly contribution starting in January 2021.
Villanueva files bill seeking postponement of SSS contribution hike
“For employed members, land-based OFW members in countries with Bilateral Labor Agreements with the Philippines, and sea-based OFW members, the additional one percent will be divided equally between them and their employers, bringing the contribution rate breakdown to 8.5 percent for their employers and 4.5 percent for them,” SSS said.
“The minimum MSC will be raised to P3,000 from P2,000 (except for Kasambahay and OFW members whose minimum MSC will remain at P1,000 and P8,000, respectively), while the maximum MSC will be at P25,000 from P20,000,” it added.
Aside from SSS, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) would also implement a 0.5% premium hike this year, under the Universal Health Care Act.
Opposition Senator Leila de Lima lambasted the increase in contribution.
“PhilHealth has yet to settle the corruption issues hounding their institution. Gaano kayo katiyak na hindi na naman maglalaho na parang bula ‘yang dagdag na singil ninyo?” she said in a statement.
“Matapos gawing personal ATM ng ilang kawani ng PhilHealth ang mga kontribusyon ng taumbayan, at matapos nilang mahuli sa mga ganid nilang pangungubra sa pinagpaguran ng mga Pilipino, ipapasa naman nila ngayon ang kalugihan nila sa mga Pinoy?” she added.