SSS-GSIS Pensyonado (SGP) Partylist backed Social Security System (SSS) President and CEO Rolando Ledesma Macasaet’s call for members of the media and young journalists to secure their futures by becoming SSS members.
“The good SSS President and CEO is correct, we will not be young forever, so we should invest in our future as soon as possible – one way of doing that is by becoming SSS members.” SGP Partylist spokesperson Val Yutan said on Wednesday (September 4).
PCEO Macasaet was one of the guests invited to speak during the National Press Freedom Day event held at the National Press Club (NPC) headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. Seeing that there were young journalists present at the event, Macasaet took the opportunity to encourage them to apply for SSS membership and contribute to their future pension benefits.
“Hihikayatin ko na yung mga members ng media po (maging miyembro ng SSS). Very important po ito. (I encourage the members of the media to be members of the SSS). It’s very important,)” PCEO Macasaet said.
“Ang mga bata dito atsaka yung nasa media, ine-encourage ko po kayo: Also be members of the SSS. (The young people and those in the media, I encourage you: Also be members of the SSS),” PCEO Macasaet continued.
According to PCEO Macasaet, only 20 million Filipinos are active members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the SSS. He expressed concern for Filipinos who do not have pensions waiting for them in the future.
PCEO Macasaet brought up his own experience as proof of the importance of securing a pension from GSIS, SSS, or even both.
“Ako po ay pensioner. 64 years old na po ako. May pension na po ako sa GSIS. May pension pa ako sa SSS. (I am a pensioner. I am 64 years old now. I have pensions from the GSIS and SSS,)” PCEO Macasaet said as he remain hopeful that the media could advocate the advantages of SSS membership and pensions.
PCEO Macaset also noted that many members of the media are not regular employees, so they lack benefits like insurance. He further elaborated that temporary workers are likewise not covered by SSS.
