The House of Representatives last night approved on third and final reading legislative measures granting the Social Security System sole authority to increase premium contributions of its members and providing the legal backbone for the P2,000 hike in monthly pension of retirees.
Also approved as a result of unanimous voting were bills granting the 25-year extension of the legislative franchises of Republic Broadcasting System Inc., now known as the GMA Network Inc., and telecommunications giant Smart Communications.
Voting 227 for and seven against with one abstention, the House passed on third and final reading House Bill 2158 proposing amendments to Republic Act 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997.
Also passed unanimously is House Joint Resolution No. 10 increasing the monthly pension of SSS pensioners by P2,000 per month. The first P1,000 of the two-tranche hike will be granted this month while the remaining P1,000 in January 2019.
House Bills 4631 and 4637 grant a 25-year extension to the legislative franchises of GMA-7 and Smart, respectively.
Negative votes were registered against the Smart franchise as oppositors assailed the grant of too much incentive for the telecommunications firm despite its alleged poor service.
Filed by 1Pacman partylist Reps. Mikee Romero and Enrico Pineda, HB 2158 will amend the SSS law by authorizing its board to increase premium contributions without the approval of the President.
Romero explained that they filed the bill after noting that SSS could not increase benefits for its members without reducing the pension fund. (Ben R. Rosario)