logo
Marcos Endorses Historic SSS Pension Hike, Cites Economic Growth

Marcos Endorses Historic SSS Pension Hike, Cites Economic Growth

Filipino Times2 days ago
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed full support for the Social Security System's (SSS) newly approved three-year pension reform program, describing it as both financially responsible and long overdue for Filipino retirees. The president emphasized that the Philippines can afford the increase due to the country's growing workforce and economic base.
The structured pension hike is set to begin in September 2025 and will benefit over 3.8 million pensioners. It comes after extensive discussions between Marcos and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who also chairs the Social Security Commission. The reform was approved under Resolution 340-s. 2025 and is based on actuarial studies to ensure sustainability.
In a podcast interview, Marcos addressed concerns about the pension fund's longevity, saying responsible financial management would sustain the program. While the fund life will be slightly reduced from 2053 to 2049, he emphasized that the increase will not require higher contributions from members. Instead, the reform is designed to balance social support with fiscal soundness.
SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph de Claro hailed the reform as a landmark development in the agency's 68-year history. He said the pension hike reflects the SSS's responsiveness to public demand and economic realities. The reform is projected to inject ₱92.8 billion into the economy over two years, while improving the quality of life for millions of retirees.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gold futures hit record on US tariff shock, stocks wobble
Gold futures hit record on US tariff shock, stocks wobble

Al Etihad

time3 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

Gold futures hit record on US tariff shock, stocks wobble

8 Aug 2025 21:08 LONDON (AFP) Gold futures hit a record high on Friday after reports of an unexpected tariff on the precious metal, while stock markets fluctuated as investors tracked US President Donald Trump's latest prices added to losses from the previous day on news of a meeting between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, perhaps as early as next week, which raised hopes of a truce with futures reached a new intraday high at $3,534.10 an ounce after the Financial Times reported that Washington had classified one-kilo bars, the most traded type of bullion on Comex - the world's biggest futures market- as subject to "reciprocal" tariff bars make up the largest part of Switzerland's gold shipments to the United States. Imports from Switzerland face a 39-per-cent reciprocal tariff from Thursday. The FT said 100-ounce bars would also face the levy caused "shock and confusion" in markets, said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Nemo Money Trading Group. The gold future price pulled back to $3 an gold prices sat around $3,400 an Bank analyst Ole Hansen said banks invest in gold futures to protect themselves from price swings in the physical bullion tariffs threaten to raise prices for physical gold, these "short positions originally intended as hedges suddenly blow up", prompting banks to buy back futures and driving prices Street stocks pushed higher, a day after the tech-heavy Nasdaq finished at a fresh record. That kept the market on track for weekly gains near the finale of an earnings season that has generally topped most major companies having already reported quarterly results, companies in the S&P 500 are on track for greater than eight per cent growth, compared with the 2.2 per cent forecast just ahead of the reporting period, said a note from CFRA Sam Stovall said the results had reassured investors, who are "discounting the uncertainties and going along with the expectation that the economy is holding up better than people might be worrying about".In European trading, both London's FTSE 100 and Frankfurt dipped, while Paris stocks edged stocks led the way on a mostly negative day for Asian markets, fuelled by relief that Tokyo and Washington had settled a tariff issue that raised concerns about their trade deal."Since the tariff agreement between the US and the European Union, some clarity has emerged, but confusion around its implementation is just beginning to surface," said Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets."In Japan, there is relief today upon hearing that the various tariffs will not be cumulative," he Nikkei 225 stock index jumped nearly two per cent after Japan's tariffs envoy said Washington was expected to revise an executive order that stacked tariffs on top of each other."However, it remains unclear whether the same rules apply for Japan and the EU," Stanzl added. Key figures at around 1530 GMT New York - Dow: UP 0.3 per cent at 44,076.64 points New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 per cent at 6,378.57 New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.8 per cent at 21,408.81 London - FTSE 100: DOWN less than 0.1 per cent at 9,095.73 (close)Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 per cent at 7,743.00 (close)Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 24,162.86 (close)Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.9 per cent at 41,820.48 (close)Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.9 per cent at 24,858.82 (close)Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 3,635.13 (close)Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3453 from $1.3445 on ThursdayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1664 from $1.1665Dollar/yen: UP at 147.73 yen from 147.07 yenEuro/pound: DOWN at 86.73 pence from 86.76 penceBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN less than 0.1 per cent at $66.37 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 per cent at $63.66 per barrel

Marcos: SC ruling on VP Duterte's impeachment is procedural, not on merits
Marcos: SC ruling on VP Duterte's impeachment is procedural, not on merits

Filipino Times

time4 hours ago

  • Filipino Times

Marcos: SC ruling on VP Duterte's impeachment is procedural, not on merits

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Friday clarified that the Supreme Court's decision declaring the impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional was based on a procedural issue, not on the merits of the case. 'We have to make very, very clear to everyone that the Supreme Court decision does not have any bearing on the rightness or wrongness of the merits of the impeachment case. They're not saying that there was no wrongdoing,' Marcos said. 'Neither are they saying there was wrongdoing. All they're saying is you did not handle it properly. That's it,' he added. Marcos also emphasized that he had no involvement in the impeachment process against Duterte, his running mate in the 2022 elections. He noted that as an impeachable official himself, he cannot intervene in such matters. 'I keep telling you, the Executive has no role in this. The President has no role. I'm an impeachable officer. I cannot involve myself in any of this. So, it's really the Supreme Court, the Senate, and the House,' he said. The Senate earlier voted to archive the articles of impeachment against Duterte following the Supreme Court's ruling that declared her impeachment unconstitutional. The Court ruled that the complaint was barred by the one-year filing period under Article XI, Section 3(5) of the Constitution and found that the articles violated Duterte's right to due process. Duterte, for her part, urged respect for the Senate's decision.

Marcos hopes China will give PH notice on rocket launches
Marcos hopes China will give PH notice on rocket launches

Filipino Times

time5 hours ago

  • Filipino Times

Marcos hopes China will give PH notice on rocket launches

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said he hopes China will inform the Philippines in advance when launching rockets so local authorities can monitor any falling debris. Speaking to the Philippine media delegation in India, Marcos said the Philippines could recover debris from the sea and return it to China if given prior notice. He added that Beijing did not commit any violations in connection with its recent rocket launch near Palawan, and recalled telling Chinese President Xi Jinping that the Philippines has no interest in China's rockets. The statement comes after concerns were raised over the launch of China's Long March-12 rocket, which was seen over Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, last Monday. Residents reported hearing explosions and feeling the ground shake as a fiery object crossed the sky. According to Chinese state media, the Long March-12 rocket successfully placed a group of internet satellites into orbit after launching Monday night from a commercial spacecraft site in Hainan province.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store