By David Cagahastian & Jovee Marie N. de la Cruz
The veto made by President Aquino on the approved bill raising Social Security System (SSS) monthly pensions by P2,000 is sure to have political repercussions, according to experts. And now, it appears that nobody wants to take a hit from the presidential veto, with the May elections just months away.
With the SSS pension bill being admittedly a highly popular bill, administration allies are passing the blame among themselves, fearful that this hot issue remains in their hands and could dampen their chances of getting re-elected in May.
Malacañang officials said that their inputs, which eventually led to the presidential veto, did not even consider the political backlash that the highly popular proposal would have on administration candidates, since the decision involved the very lifeblood of the SSS fund. However, the preoccupation with the political repercussions of the veto among administration allies cannot be denied, as Malacañang officials said that it was an easy decision to make between the interests of 2.1 million SSS pensioners, as against 11 million active SSS members, who might be discouraged to contribute further into the SSS fund if it appeared to be at risk of being dissipated before they get to retire.
University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) Dean Ma. Fe V. Mendoza said the political advisers of the President are political animals who could not have missed the political repercussions of advising the veto. But she said the issue of who should take the blame for the veto could not have arisen if only the members of Congress did their homework by providing for funding for the proposed P2,000 across-the-board pension increase.
Mendoza said the policy decision on whether to veto the approved bill should not have only considered the number of votes that will be swayed by either action in the next elections, but should have considered the totality of pros and cons that the proposed pension increase would give rise to.
“As leader of the country, the consideration should not only be about whether it would be prudent or not. At the end of the day, it should affirmatively answer the question of whether such action would be fair to all concerned,” she said.
In the Senate, Senate President and Liberal Party (LP) Chairman Franklin M. Drilon, who endorsed the vetoed bill, pointed to the House of Representatives as the body which should initiate an override of the veto still being hoped for by the 2.1 million SSS pensioners. Drilon pointed out that under the Constitution, since the bill originated in the House of Representatives, then the vetoed bill shall return to it and it can start the override process by a two-thirds vote of all its members. After that, the returned bill shall be transmitted to the Senate where the override of the veto could be completed through another two-thirds vote of all the members of the Senate. But Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. could not even muster his allies to produce a quorum during the remaining session days before Congress adjourns on February 6. Instead, Belmonte seemed to beat around the bush and broached several other alternatives to appease the SSS pensioners, who were already expecting that the approved bill would at least just lapse into law.
These alternatives range from providing an SSS pension increase of P500 or P1,000, which allegedly could be done by the SSS on its own without waiting for Congress to pass a law. These alternatives, however, merely muddle the issue, ostensibly so it can gradually die a natural death.
Deflecting the backlash
Belmonte also tried to deflect the blame from the House of Representatives and his allies who are seeking reelection by saying that the SSS pension increase had a “sister bill,” which the Senate failed to pass, thus, necessitating a veto by the President to save the SSS fund from dissipating. The supposed sister bill would have raised the SSS contributions to fund the proposed P2,000 across-the-board increase in monthly pensions. The SSS leadership itself had some efforts to deflect the political repercussions of the veto away from administration candidates, saying the pension increase was a subsidy that would have been given mostly to those pensioners who do not need such subsidy.
However, a closer analysis will reveal that his argument does not hold water, since the SSS itself admitted that the average pension is only P3,169 per month, clearly the amount that’s being received by a pensioner who, indeed, needs the help.
Despite these efforts to deflect the political backlash, Mendoza said that it is the President who will have to bear the brunt of the public opinion against the veto, not a congressman who is now being lobbied upon by his constituents to join the effort to override the veto, but who can do nothing unless two-thirds of his colleagues would also join that effort.
Roxas to take hit
But since the President is not a candidate in the next elections, it would be his anointed one, former Interior Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, who would suffer the political consequences of the presidential veto in the next elections, another political analyst said.
Former UP-NCPAG Dean Edna Estifania Co said the public would associate the effects of the veto on the President and on his favored successor. “There’s definitely a negative repercussion in terms of politics because it is already the political season. And because the President has the veto power, the people will identify that decision to him and to his candidate,” Co said.
‘Band-Aid solution’
The bid of Palace allies, meanwhile, to pass the measure empowering the SSS to increase its contributions, only seeks to provide Band-Aid solution to the political and social backlash brought about by President Aquino’s veto of the bill increasing the pension of SSS members, lawmakers said.
Party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela said the administration is only diverting the issue to save the LP bets from public anger. Belmonte Jr. was quick to find a solution to salvage his group from political storm by asking the Senate to enact the sister bill—House Bill 6112—empowering the SSS board to increase the contribution of its members with just six days left in the 16th Congress. Belmonte said Senate President Franklin M. Drilon has committed that “the Senate will do its best to pass HB 6112.” Ironically, the failure of the Senate to pass this House Bill 6112 also led to the now-controversial presidential veto of the proposed P2,000 hike in SSS pension. After this, Congress will write a letter to Palace to urge President Aquino to order the SSS board to implement a P1,000 hike in SSS pension. The amount is a compromise to the original P2,000 pension hike. But Ilagan countered: “Why is he [Belmonte] talking about P1,000? The bill is P2,000. The P1,000 is a counterproposal.
The move is misleading because the bill they want to pass is to empower and strengthen the SSS, which is entirely different from the P2,000 pension-hike bill. Even if you empower or strengthen the SSS as an agency, what is the assurance that they will provide what the people is asking for,” Ilagan said.
“They are diverting the attention from the President, who is now perceived as very insensitive, anti-poor and anti-contributors. They are doing this to prevent the backlash, which is affecting [Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel] Roxas [II]. The Liberal Party bets are experiencing the backlash because of this wrong decision of the President,” Ilagan said. President Aquino’s veto not only drew the ire of the public, particularly senior citizens, but that of lawmakers and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, as well.
Missed legacy
Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol said Congress can start considering overriding the President’s veto now or leave it to the next Congress.
“It could have been one of the great legacies [of the administration],” said Batocabe, adding, “the next administration can certify urgent a bill that will increase contribution in the event that an increase in pension will drastically prejudice the financial position of the SSS.” Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio of Act Teachers said President Aquino has denied desperately needed relief to 2.1 million SSS pensioners, many of whom receive as little as P1,200 per month.
“The Senate’s inaction is merely a pretext used by Malacañang to deflect criticism of the President’s veto. The president currently has the power to authorize an increase in premium contribution rates, as he did in 2014,” Tinio said. Independent Bloc leader and Lakas Rep. Martin Romualdez of Leyte said President Aquino’s decision to veto the pension hike shows lack of compassion and concern to the plight of pensioners and their dependents who badly need the increase.
“Surely, this could have dire consequences or serious backlash on the ability of his candidates to woo the support of the electorate in the coming polls. This [P2,000 pension hike] could have been a good legacy of his administration had he not vetoed,” Romualdez said. Also, Nationalist People’s Coalition Rep. Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela agreed that the decision of President Aquino to veto the bill might have repercussions on the popularity of Roxas.
“The decision of the President might adversely affect his candidate[s],” said Albano, House contingent head for the minority bloc of the Commission on Appointments. President Aquino has vetoed the enrolled HB 5842, which provides for a P2,000 across-the-board increase in the monthly pension of SSS pensioners and adjustment of the minimum monthly pension from P1,200 to P3,200, for members who have contributed the equivalent of 10 credited years of service (CYS), and from P2,400 to P4,000, for those with at least 20 CYS.
Override
PARTY-LIST Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, one of the principal authors of the pension bill, challenged the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate to override President Aquino’s veto. “We [the Makabayan bloc] will still push through with the campaign to override the veto of the P2,000 pension hike. They can study the P500 and P1,000 hike, but this does not preclude us from pushing for the P2,000 pension hike,” Colmenares said.
Party-list Rep. Fernando Hicap of Anakpawis called on various sectors to push for the override of the veto, saying that he directed the group’s chapter members, supporters, as well as local government officials to press their respective representatives to vote against the veto. Under Article VI, Section 27 of the 1987 Constitution, Congress could pass a bill into law despite the President’s veto if two-thirds of the members of each chamber vote for its approval.
At least 194 of the 290 remaining House members would have to vote to approve a vetoed measure to overturn the President’s opposition to it. NPC Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela said his political party is considering calling for an override of the presidential veto. “Actually, the NPC is considering the [override] call as a party. We believe our senior citizens should get fair assistance from the government. We’re contemplating the override. The NPC is the second-biggest party [following the Liberal Party] in Congress with over 50 members, but we’re still studying that until now,” Gatchalian said.
Easy and convenient
LP Rep. Jerry Trenas of Iloilo, meanwhile, said it is actually easy and convenient for President Aquino to simply sign the proposed P2,000 pension increase. But as “a true and responsible leader, he opted to veto the measure to ensure the viability and sustainability of the state-run social insurance agency even in the future.”
“If only for the purpose of becoming popular, especially now that he is batting for continuity of his daang matuwid governance, the President could have easily signed the proposed measure and let the next leaders after him bear the brunt of trying to keep the SSS afloat in the future.
He didn’t, even if it means he would really look bad to millions of SSS members. The President chose to do the right thing and not one that is simply popular,” Trenas said. Trenas added that this issue would certainly be used against Roxas. But knowing President Aquino, his commitment to do what is right for the country is paramount over personal politics.
He added the relief that will come from the proposed 2,000 across-the-board pension for private-sector retirees, is only short and temporary, but the pain and anguish that it could bring to the next generation of retirees would be long and excruciating.
‘Solomonic’
National Unity Party Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City said the President is being demonized for vetoing the bill, when he should be appreciated for his “Solomonic” act.
Barzaga, a senior administration ally at the lower chamber, said the President is being unfairly criticized for making a tough but right decision, which saved the SSS from potential bankruptcy. Barzaga added that the president has never been a shirker when faced with difficult decisions, regardless of the political repercussions. He said Mr. Aquino “should be commended for showing his resolve in going against popular but unsound pieces of legislation, something that takes a lot of courage to do.”
“P-Noy has been drawing heavy flak again for making an unpopular but right decision. Such a Solomonic act should be appreciated because the country will be the one to benefit in the long run,” Barzaga said. “The President’s decision makes complete sense.”