Beware the pacifier

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The government is reported to be earmarking a P30 billion fund for the Government Service Insurance System and the Social Security System members. This came out after an earlier news item announced that, of the P330 billion the administration is eyeing for use as n “economic stimulus package”, some P12.5 billion will be taken out of the contributions of SSS members. It has not yet been mentioned how much the GSIS is supposed to add to that ESP, but it does look as if members are going to be the ones to supply the money and a small portion of that will also be given to them to keep them happy.

Perhaps soon we will hear about how this portion is going to be doled out to us as a form of pacifier. Since many members are so hard up now that they will leap at any amount that could tide them over for a while, the pithy share from that P330 billion intended for the ESP would be enough to tamp down protests, for the time being.

What is alarming, however, is the justification for putting together that package, which is allegedly to build more roads and other infrastructure in the country. Since elections are due in less than two years from now, the setting up of the fund, and the palliative to be shared to members as well as retirees of the two agencies is rather suspect. Will the money also go the way of the infamous fertilizer scam? As many know, road and infrastructure-building are great sources of graft, and this can take place through many avenues – from the bidding to the digging, to the purchases of materials, to the pay of workers, and even to the cement mixing. If the recent World Bank report is true, some 30 percent gets lopped off by graft when it comes to such projects.

Members as well as retirees and pensioners of both the SSS and GSIS should be on alert and be ready to do what they can to protect their money. Who needs it more than they?*