📷Former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares
Former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares today denounced the Marcos Jr. administration’s plan to use SSS, GSIS and PhilHealth funds for infrastructure projects, calling it “a dangerous raid on workers’ hard-earned money.”
“Ginagawa nilang piggy bank ng administrasyon ang pera ng mga manggagawa at kawani para sa mga infrastructure projects nila. These are not government funds but private funds that belong to the members who contributed their hard-earned money for their health and social security needs,” Colmenares stated.
The progressive lawmaker pointed out that the planned use of these funds violates the respective charters of SSS, GSIS and PhilHealth, which strictly limit how member contributions can be invested and prohibit their use for general government funding.
“Bakit gagamitin ang pondo ng mga manggagawa para sa mga infrastructure projects na dapat ay pinondohan ng regular budget? This is both illegal and immoral. The government should properly fund its infrastructure through transparent and accountable means, not by raiding workers’ social security and healthcare funds,” the former Bayan Muna congressman emphasized.
Colmenares called for immediate congressional oversight hearings on the matter. “We demand full transparency and accountability. Kailangang malaman ng publiko kung saan napupunta ang kanilang pinaghirapang kontribusyon. These funds should be used to expand benefits and services for members, not to fund the administration’s pet infrastructure projects.”
“We call on all workers and citizens to remain vigilant and resist this brazen attempt to misuse their hard-earned contributions. Hindi pwedeng gawing gatasan ang pera ng mga manggagawa,” Colmenares concluded.#
