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06/05/2023

Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the rise of sugar retail prices to P136/kilo

Hindi na tubong lugaw kundi hayagang pagnanakaw sa mamimili ang mataas na presyo ng asukal na pilit ipinapapasan sa buong bansa sa tulong ng korapsyon at mismanagement.

Sa totoo lang, naibenta na ng mga azucarera ang supply nito sa traders, at ayon kay dating SRA Administrator Rafael Coscolluela, dapat ay napababa nito ang presyo ng asukal sa P86 to P90 kada kilo. At dahil pumasok na rin sa merkado ang 170,000 metric tons ng asukal ng All Asian Countertrade, Sucden Philippines at Edison Lee Marketing, kaya yang i-benta ng mababa sa P70 per kilo ng walang lugi.

Bakit tumaas ang presyo sa halip na bumaba? Bakit may patong na P40 hanggang P60 na di maipaliwanag? Iyan ay resulta na patuloy na pag-corner ng tatlong importer sa suplay ng asukal sa bansa. Siguradong alam iyan ng Malakanyang, ng Department of Agriculture at ni bagong talagang Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, dahil kagagawan nila ang pagbuo ng "cartel" na hawak ang murang supply ng asukal

It appears that retailers, food producers, traders, wholesalers and the market are taking their cues from the favored importers and their irregularities. Wholesalers may be aligning their price offer with those of the cartel. Ang food producers naman, traders at retailers ay kumakagat sa mataas na presyo dahil walang ibang source, at kabado na baka maubusan dahil matunog ang balitang walang sapat na kapital ang SUCDEN para angkatin ang 100 thousand metric tons na assigned sa kanya.

Solusyon ba ang retail price controls? Hindi yan solusyon kung hindi naman sila ang gumawa ng pambihirang patong sa presyo. Baka magresulta lang ito ng lalong pagkawala ng suplay ng asukal sa ating suking retail markets.

Ang kailangan ay ang pagbuwag sa cartel na hawak ang suplay ng asukal. Tandaan natin na maliban sa mga naunang imports, inobliga daw ng Sugar Order No. 6 ang tatlong importer na bumili ng 440,000 metric tons ng asukal mula sa lokal na supply. Ibig sabihin, maaaring mahawakan ng cartel ang aabot sa 880,000 metric tons ng asukal, na siguradong ibebenta ng mahal sa publiko. Kasama iyan sa pangamba ng merkado.

Baka sa halip na price control sa retail ay price monitoring at control sa wholesale ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ng pamahalaan, dahil sa wholesale price na kapag di-dikta ang makapangyarihang kartel.

Mayroon pang halos 260 thousand metric tons na kailangang angkatin mula sa Thailand upang maabot ang kailangang suplay ng bansa. Dapat agarang umaksyon ang SRA at ibigay ang import license sa mga qualified na importer ayon na rin Sugar Order No. 6. Sana ay kumilos ang pamahalaan bago pa lalong kumonti ang suplay ng asukal at sumirit pataas ang presyo nito. # # #

06/05/2023

PNP, SSS to pursue social security coverage of former rebels through contribution subsidy arrangement

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – The Social Security System (SSS) held a dialogue with the Ilocos Sur Police Provincial Office (ISPPO) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here last April 12 to discuss plans to facilitate social security coverage of former rebels through contribution subsidy arrangements.

The SSS is discussing details with the PNP as to the number of former rebels, their current livelihood, and their typical monthly income to determine the cost of providing full social security contributions to them for a period of six (6) months. SSS is keen on participating as a subsidy provider under its Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP).

Eventually, it is hoped that government, non-government entities, and individuals can also participate in the CSPP as subsidy providers to sustain social security coverage of the former rebels well beyond six (6) months.

“SSS learned that these former armed groups are now enrolled in various livelihood trainings offered by the government as part of their reintegration process. We, at SSS, would like to be part of this government endeavor by providing them social protection as they rebuild their lives in the community,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said.

As SSS active members, CSPP beneficiaries will be qualified to different SSS benefits like sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral and be eligible to loan privileges such as the Salary Loan Program. They are also entitled to Employee’s Compensation (EC) benefits for work-related contingencies.

“As soon as the details and guidelines are finalized, we will meet prospective contribution subsidy providers and their beneficiaries to orient them on the value of SSS membership as well as their responsibilities under this program,” Macasaet said.

Provincial Director PCOL Marlo Aquino Castillo as represented by Deputy Provincial Director for Administration PLTCOL Louise Benjie Pintor Tremor, expressed his support in the project and promised to assist SSS in any way possible.

Photo shows SSS Senior Vice President for Luzon Operations Group Atty. Antonio Argabioso discussing the value of SSS membership in front of the officers of ISPPO at Camp Elpidio R. Quirino, Bulag Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Also in the dialogue were SSS Senior Vice President Mario Sibucao of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Branch Operations, SSS Vice President for Luzon North 1 Division Ceasar Saludo, SSS Public Affairs and Special Events Division Concurrent Acting Head Carlo Villacorta, Account Management Group Concurrent Acting Head Atty. Neil Hernaez and SSS Candon Acting Branch Head Arvi Resultay. # # #

06/05/2023

SSS Luzon Central 1 joins nationwide campaign vs non-complying employers, to collect P 9.32-M contribution delinquency

The Social Security System (SSS) Luzon Central 1 Division participated in the nationwide conduct of Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) Campaign to collect P9.32 million worth of contribution delinquency.

“The activity was simultaneously held in the provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Aurora. This will send a strong message to all employers that SSS is committed in its mandate in providing social security protection to our workers in the private sector. As one of our valuable partners, we are asking for employers’ full cooperation through registration of their business and payment of contribution delinquency,” SSS Vice President for Luzon Central 1 Division Vilma P. Agapito said during the press briefing.

A total of 75 business establishments received written notices from SSS; 44 of which did not remit the Social Security (SS) and Employees Compensation (EC) contribution of their employees while 31 failed to register their business to the SSS. They were given a non-extendable period of 15 days to visit the SSS branch office that has jurisdiction over them to put their records in order and avail of the ongoing contribution penalty condonation program.

“Employers can settle their contribution delinquency either one-time payment or installment terms up to 48 months, depending on the amount. Once their past-due contributions were completely settled, the accumulated penalties shall be waived which is advantageous on the part of the employers since they will be paying lesser amount. On the contrary, if these employers still refused to cooperate with us, SSS will be compelled to press legal charges against them,” Agapito added.

Failure or refusal to comply with the provisions of Republic Act 11199 or Social Security Act of 2018 is punishable by a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P20,000 or imprisonment for not less than six years and one day but not more than twelve years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Agapito also appealed to all employed members to take part in this endeavor by reporting to SSS should their employers failed to pay their SS and EC contributions as they fall due. They are advised to register at the My.SSS Portal of the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph) to view and monitor their contribution and loan records. # # #