P100-M SSS typhoon aid leaves victims with nothing, Arroyo with plenty

KMU, Anakpawis picket SSS office to demand direct assistance to victims

Workers led by Kilusang Mayo Uno and Anakpawis Partylist slammed the dubious donation of P100-million typhoon aid by the Social Security System to the Office of the President, saying the P30-million share of Gloria Arroyo may just spark another storm against her regime.

In a picket-protest in front of the SSS office today, workers and typhoon victims demanded SSS Pres. and CEO Romulo Neri to explain the trick that he made with SSS funds which speedily endowed Arroyo with millions of pesos even as members, majority of which are workers, scramble for slow-moving loans.

According to the SSS website, the government agency released P60 million to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, P30 million to the Office of the President and P5 million each to labor and employer groups.
“We wonder why the SSS administration, under the leadership of Sec. Neri – a close ally of Mrs. Arroyo – should allocate its members’ funds to the Office of the President instead of directly releasing cash assistance to SSS members,” said KMU Secretary General Roger Soluta.

“While the SSS administration provides its poor but hard-working members with mere loans and loan payment moratoriums, it doesn’t think twice about providing politicians with the opportunity to steal millions from workers – and in the aftermath of a national disaster at that,” added Soluta.
Rep. Joel Maglunsod of Anakpawis Partylist said the allocation of the typhoon aid “raises suspicions about its real intentions.”

“Does the SSS really want to be of service to members affected by the typhoon? Or is the pressure or enticements from corrupt politicians so immense that Mr. Neri can only ’moderate the greed’ of these politicians?,” he said.
Rep. Maglunsod said SSS should release P20,000 direct cash assistance to members who are affected by the typhoon if it really wants to help, rather than release funds to corrupt agencies.

KMU also questioned the disbursement of the P5 million to labor groups, saying “the amount has never been felt by workers.”

“We demand that the government infuse funds to the SSS so it can provide members with P20,000 direct calamity assistance. We demand that the disbursement of funds by the SSS to other government agencies be investigated. We say to Mrs. Arroyo: Hands off SSS! Direct cash assistance for workers now!” said Soluta. #