Maza to Neri: Channel SSS Funds to Loans not to an Empty Stimulus Bag

Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza today denounced SSS Administrator Neri’s pronouncement that he can no longer grant much needed loans to SSS members who lost their jobs due to the global financial crisis.

“How can SSS not have enough funds to provide assistance to laid-off workers when it just recently committed P12.5 B funds to Arroyo’s economic stimulus package? This is the most negligent and indifferent responses to thousands of SSS members who are in dire need for immediate assistance from the government,” Maza said.

The Gabriela solon also stressed that  Neri himself confirmed that SSS has enough funds during the House committee on economic affairs meeting last February.

“Neri’s claim that providing separation loans to retrenched workers would violate the law is as absurd as his earlier plan to squander the funds of 27 million SSS members to their economic resiliency plan. The SSS charter is very clear that its main role is to extend social-security protection to workers and their beneficiaries. Neri is the one guilty of violating the SSS charter by arbitrarily denying the loan benefits of the contributors. In fact, he already infringed it by channeling the private funds to the government’s stimulus package without even consulting the members,” Maza added.

“If Neri cannot act on the interest of the SSS members and go by his mandate, there’s barely a reason for him to stay as SSS President. Neri should better resign as the people have long despised him for his deeds.”

The Gabriela Reps. Liza Maza and Luz Ilagan, together with Anakpawis Rep.Rafael Mariano had earlier filed House Resolution No.956 to investigate the implications to the benefits of private sector workers of SSS President Romulo Neri’s move to commit the P12.5 B of SSS funds to the Arroyo administration’s “economic stimulus fund” and to recommend measures including the review and possible amendments to the SSS charter.

The nationwide petition against the use of SSS funds initiated by the Gabriela Women's Party chapters together with Pro-fund, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Courage, Migrante, and Anakpawis also continue to gather the support of the concerned public.