Quick decisions and prompt actions made by the Duterte administration to stem the rapid spread of COVID-19 should be praised. Along the way, however, a big segment of the most vulnerable age group, the senior citizens, has been overlooked, left out of the reach of government as the crisis intensifies. I am referring to the 2.5 million poorly paid Social Security System pensioners equally exposed to the virus.
With measly pensions at a minimum of P2,400 a month, earned with blood, sweat, and tears during their prime years, they can hardly keep body and soul together, much less pay for maintenance medicine. Stripped of the chance to add additional pesos to their pension on orders to stay home, many without other support face real starvation.
This need not happen if SSS adopts three simple steps to help the millions of pensioners muddle through the crisis:
1) Defer the deduction of pension loan payments for the month of April.
2) Advance asap the payment of at least one-fourth of their 13th-month pension.
3) Revive and implement the forgotten promise to increase the SSS monthly pension by another P1,000 this year.
We are not asking for doles. We are only seeking fairness and social justice.
ABE P. BELENA,
abe_belena@yahoo.com