The proposed P2,000 hike in monthly pension of retired private workers easily hurdled the committee level in the House of Representatives but authors warned of another Malacañang veto.
The House Committee on Government Enterprises quickly disposed of consolidated version of 16 bills that revived a bid to increase the current pension payments received by retirees.
The approved bill is similar to the measure that former President Aquino vetoed which partly caused the defeat of his 2016 presidential candidate and close ally, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II.
Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffino Biazon, principal author of one of the legislative proposals, warned that the lack of a provision in the bill that would cover the huge expenses for increasing the pension may result to a second veto of the proposal, this time by President Duterte.
Meanwhile, the House measure that seeks a one-year deferment of the October 31 barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan elections is one step closer to enactment after congressmen approved on second reading House Bill No.3384 Tuesday night. (Ben R. Rosario)
