The resolution overriding the presidential veto of the bill increasing Social Security System (SSS) pension by P2,000 is steadily gaining ground in the House of Representatives, Party-list Rep. Neri J. Colmenares of Bayan Muna said on Sunday.
Colmenares, the main author of the bill, said at least 64 congressmen have already signed the resolution overriding President Aquino’s veto of the P2,000 SSS pension hike since Congress adjourned last week.
“We now have an initial 64 signatures so far collated, and we are still gathering the signed resolution from the offices of many
congressmen next week. By May 23, we hope to have more than 194 signatures,” he added.
“We wish to emphasize that this is just an initial list, and many more congressmen have expressed support for the override. We expect more congressmen to sign as the days pass. We ask our senior citizens [to] go to their representatives to ask that they support the override resolution when it is filed on May 23, when Congress reconvenes,” Colmenares said.
The lawmaker added that the lower chamber abruptly ended the session last Wednesday to prevent the voting for the motion to override the controversial veto.
“By May 23, we will again present this at the plenary, and we hope that it would not be disregarded and debated upon. What is at stake here are the lives of our pensioners and everyday counts,” he said.
“Also by May 23, there would essentially be a new president, and my colleagues would not have to fear retaliation from President Aquino,” Colmenares added.
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 291 remaining House members would have to vote to approve a vetoed measure to overturn the President’s opposition to it.
In January Mr. Aquino has informed Congress he has vetoed the enrolled House Bill 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.
The President was worried that the stability of the SSS would be compromised if he would allow the pension hike for 2.1 million pensioners.
Earlier, Majority Leader and Liberal Party Rep. Neptali Gonzales II of Mandaluyong City said there should have been no problem in passing the bill increasing the pension hike into law, if only the Senate approved the accompanying measure that will prevent the SSS from going bankrupt as a result of the pension increase.