• Lawmakers should consider stability of Social Security System fund, Says Palace official
• Security forces keep close watch over transmission towers of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

Coloma was reacting to reports that some lawmakers are thinking of overriding the presidential veto on the proposed bill increasing the pension of retired SSS members.

President Benigno S. Aquino on January 12 vetoed House Bill No. 5842, which provides a P2,000 hike that would benefit 2.1 million pensioners and their dependents.

The President said that increasing the pension would shorten the life of the SSS, which at present has 31 million members.

“Mainam na isaalang-alang ng ating mga mambabatas ang kahalagahan na patatagin ang pondo ng SSS at tiyakin ang kasiguruhan ng pagbabayad ng benepisyo sa lahat ng mahigit 30 milyong miyembro nito,” said Coloma in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.

The Palace official said the pensioners could get additional support from other government agencies.

“Sa kanyang pahayag noong Biyernes sa Malolos, sinabi ni Pangulong Aquino na siya ay nagpasya bilang ama ng bayan at pinuno ng responsableng pamahalaan na hindi magpapasa ng malaking suliranin sa susunod na administrasyon. Mahalagang isaalang-alang din ng mga kasalukuyang nanunungkulan ang epekto ng kanilang mga desisyon ngayon sa kinabukasan at kapakanan ng higit na nakararaming mamamayan,” explained Coloma.

Reports said Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, who is running for senator in the coming elections, is calling on his fellow members in the Congress to stand by the bill they passed and override the presidential veto.

A veto override requires a two-thirds vote of both the Senate and the House of Representative.

Colmenares, who is planning to file the motion to override during the plenary session at the House of Representatives, claimed that the SSS will not go bankrupt if the P2,000 pension increase was approved. PND (jm)

“Patuloy na tinutulungan ng ating mga puwersang pangseguridad mula sa AFP at PNP ang NGCP sa pagbibigay ng seguridad sa mga transmission towers na ginagamit sa iba’t ibang lugar,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. when asked to comment on the recent bombing of an NGCP transmission tower in Aleosan, Cotabato.

According to reports, unidentified bandits used two bombs made from a 60mm mortar in an attempt to destroy NGCP’s Tower 63 at Purok 4 in Barangay Pagangan last Thursday. The attack only damaged two of the tower’s four legs.

Coloma said President Aquino has instructed Energy Department Secretary Zenaida Monsada to meet with the interagency task force to determine the bombing incident as well as to discuss the right of way in places where NGCP towers are being installed in Mindanao.

“Pagkatapos magtungo ni Pangulong Aquino sa Davao upang magpasinaya ng additional electric power generating capacity, inatasan niya si DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada na pulungin ang isang interagency task force para tukuyin hindi lamang ang mga insidenteng nabanggit kundi pati na rin ang mga usapin hinggil sa right of way doon sa pinagtatayuan ng mga NGCP transmission towers sa Mindanao,” said Coloma.

The Palace official said the DOE wants to improve the security of the transmission towers to prevent attacks from bandits.

“Kaya patuloy na tinatalakay ito ng interagency task force sa pamumuno ng DOE at tinutukoy nila kung paano ba higit na mapapahusay ang seguridad at mabawasan, kung hindi tuluyang mapigilan, ang mga insidenteng ito,” said Coloma.

He said the NGCP is also calling on the public to help the government in watching over the transmission lines.

“Sa ibang bahagi din naman ng ating bansa katulad sa Northern Luzon at Cordillera, ang NGCP doon ay nananawagan din sa mga mamamayan na makipagtulungan sa pamahalaan sa pagbabantay ng transmission lines laban sa mga gumagawa ng ligalig at pinagtutulungan din doon ng pulisya at ng militar ang seguridad ng mga transmission lines sa Cordillera region,” said Coloma.

Meanwhile, Coloma has assured that the government is continuously monitoring the power situation in the country, in anticipation of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

“Patuloy na tinututukan ito, mayroong continuous monitoring ng power situation. Pansinin din natin na kumpara doon sa mga naunang senaryo hinggil sa El Niño, nagkaroon naman ng karagdagang suplay ng tubig doon sa ating mga dam, at hindi naman umabot sa kritikal na level, ang mga ito, bagkus umapaw pa nga ang mga ito, kaya may mga plus or minus elements na rin na pumasok sa senaryo,” said Coloma.

“Patuloy na tinitiyak ng ating pamahalaan na hindi malalagay sa alanganin ang sitwasyon ng ating mga mamamayan. Ang mga contingency measures ay patuloy pa ring nire-review at fina-fine tune at tinitiyak na may sapat na kahandaan ang lahat kapag naganap ang mga senaryong patungkol sa El Niño,” he added. PND (jm)