SSS implements 10% increase

In multi-year pension reform

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—It may not be like the P1,000 increase when then president Duterte ordered in 2016, but just the same, a multi-year pension reform and structured increase in pensions for retired members and disability pensioners and for survivor pensioners would be in for the next three years.

This was according to the Social Security System (SSS) who, with Bohol Branch acting head Dioscoro Madanguit and communications analyst Sherwin Dan Solibaga shared the news during the recent Kapihan sa PIA.

“The Pension Reform Program, a landmark reform program, is very historic because this is the first time that SSS would implement an increase in pension within the next three years,” Solibaga said.

Starting September 2025, or last year, retiree and disability pensioners got a 10 percent increase per year in their pensions, and then by 2026, another round of 10% increase of pensions would be implemented. This goes on until 2027, he explained.

Also covered in the pension program are those receiving survivor pensioners, they would have 5 percent increase starting September 2025 to 2027.

It may also be recalled that prior to the Duterte-approved P1,000 increase in pension, a 5 percent across the board increase in pension in 2014.

“After the first P1,000 increase in 2016, there was a clamor from pensioners asking for the second tranche increase of another P1,000 as promised during the campaign, but during that time, SSS could only afford P1,000 increase,” according to the Cebu based communications analyst.

During then, the SSS, upon instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Finance secretary Ralph Recto, started studies for another set of increases, and after the study, out comes the PRP.

“Aside from the retiree and disability pensioners, even the survivor pensioners can get, although the increases in percentages may not be the same,” Solibaga added.

Solibaga also emphasized that the rate of the monthly pension is dependent on the monthly contributions.

At present, the lowest pension is P2,000, the average monthly pension is at P5,000 and the highest is P24,000, as to the SSS.

Briefly said, for those getting the P2,000 pension, this becomes P2,200 until August 2026, inches to P2,420 monthly until August of 2026 and becomes P2,682 in September of 2027.

“Along with this, the SSS also assured that within that period of the PRP, there will be no increase in contributions,” the SSS official said.

And to further prove that the SSS has got a sound fiscal backing for its programs, it has even lowered its interest rates for its member’s loans.

Since 2025, SSS reduced interest rates for loan programs, with salary loans dropping from 10 percent to 8 percent per annum; calamity loans from 10% to 7 percent per annum; and emergency loan from 10 percent to 7 percent since July 2025.

These, however apply to members without penalty condonations in the last 5 years and with good credit standing, SSS said.

A service fee of 1 percent fee is charged on the loanable amount; calamity loans payable within 24 monthly instalments and can be renewed after 6 months if payments are updated. (PIABohol)

MORE THAN PROMISED. As retired SSS members have clamoured for the second P1,000 increase as promised then, pensioners including ones that have regular monthly disability availments and survivor pensioners tend to get more than the P1,000 balance in the next three years, with the SSS Pension Reform Program, explains SSS senior communications analyst Sherwin Dan Solibaga, who along with SSS Bohol acting head Dioscoro Madanguit came to the Kapihan sa PIA. (PIAbohol)