Palace welcomes Senate probe of SSS execs’ bonuses
alaca ang yesterday welcomed the Senate inquiry into the grant of fat bonuses to officials of the Social Security System (SSS) amid plans to hi e the contribution of its members
“We respect the prerogative of the Senate to loo into it, presidential spo esman Edwin acierda said, even as he clari- fied in a text message to reporters that the “SSS directors have not yet received their Productivity Performance onus
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 acierda 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 now that there is also a corresponding bonus for the employees, he said
He also debun ed 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
Workers stage protest
eanwhile, various wor ers 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 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 poc et huge bonuses, ilusang ayo no chairman Elmer abog said in a statement
“They are clearly intoxicated with greed and have no concern for SSS members who wor hard in order to remit contributions to the agency, he said
He also slammed the per diem of SSS executives amounting to P , per board meeting and P , per committee meeting
“If De Quiros and the SSS board want to get bigger compensation, they should resign and go to the private sector where they belong, he said