Duterte OKs ‘one-time aid’ to govt pensioners

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has authorized the grant of one-time financial assistance of P20,000 to qualified pensioners under the employees’ compensation (EC) to provide relief amid the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Administrative Order (AO) 39, signed by Duterte on Monday, empowers the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) to grant a one-time cash aid to around 31,000 pensioners of the Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

“The ECC is hereby authorized to grant a one-time financial assistance of P20,000 to EC pensioners for permanent disability, permanent total disability and survivorship, in the private and public sectors, subject to the availability of funds and pertinent laws, rules and regulations,” the order read.

AO 39 noted that the ECC has endorsed the proposed grant of financial aid given the “undue financial hardships” of pensioners and the anticipated “prolonged impact of the pandemic on their lives.”

The order also noted that SSS and GSIS studies showed the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) could finance the one-time grant without affecting its stability and requiring additional contributions.

“The adverse effects of the pandemic on the economy, supplementary health necessities for the battle against the virus and restrictions imposed on our mobility and social interaction have increased the financial and health burdens experienced by the EC pensioners,” it said.

The ECC, SSS and GSIS are directed to appropriate and release the amounts necessary to cover the one-time financial assistance from the reserves of the relevant SIF that the SSS and GSIS administer under the EC program.

The three offices have also been asked to issue rules and regulations to implement the latest directive.

AO 39 takes effect immediately following its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

The EC Program was designed to provide a compensation package to public and private workers and their dependents for work-related sickness, injury or death.

Sea-based overseas Filipino workers and maids are privatesector workers who are considered compulsory SSS members.

Government employees who are compulsory GSIS members include uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine Coast Guard.