MANILA: Malacañang yesterday welcomed the Senate inquiry into the grant of fat bonuses to officials of the Social Security System (SSS) amid plans to hike the contribution of its members.
“We respect the prerogative of the Senate to look into it,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, even as he clarified in a text message to reporters that the “SSS directors have not yet received their Productivity Performance Bonus.”
He said the grant of the incentive was “defensible” as it was “based on very strict guidelines” that the Aquino administration has imposed. He added that even SSS employees got bonuses.
Lacierda also noted that the bonus was given after the SSS managed to obtain savings and “some good investments.”
“We can only declare bonus if the GOCC (government-owned and controlled corporation) is earning, and in this case, SSS has been earning huge. And we know that there is also a corresponding bonus for the employees,” he said.
He also debunked claims that the SSS would source the bonuses for its officials and employees from the contributions of its members. “The bonus is contingent on the revenues generated along with the other requirements,” he said.
He added that not all SSS board members are entitled to a bonus since certain requirements must be met.
Meanwhile, various workers groups burned pictures of SSS chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros and President Aquino during a protest in front of the SSS office in Quezon City yesterday.
“The executives of the SSS should immediately return their 2012 bonuses to the members’ fund. As long as SSS members suffer from worsening hunger and poverty, there will never be a reason for them to pocket huge bonuses,” Kilusang Mayo Uno chairman Elmer Labog said in a statement.
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