Press Release
January 25, 2009

ROXAS: SSS, GSIS FUNDS WILL BE WASTED ON STIMULUS
P5,000 TAX BREAK PUSHED AMID FINANCIAL CRISIS

While the global financial crisis should be met with swift action from the government, President Arroyo's plan to use funds of the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the government's economic stimulus program is a big mistake, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said today.

"Mahalagang siguruhin ang kinabukasan ng perang pang-retiro ng ating mga manggagawa. Kahit na kontrolado ng gobyerno ang pondo ng SSS at GSIS, wala itong permiso na gamitin ang pondong ito nang walang kasiguruhang tama ang pag-gagamitan (It's important to ensure the welfare of workers in the future. The government has no permission to use money of SSS and GSIS members even if this is under its control)," he said.

With this government's record of massive corruption at every level, SSS members are sure to see P12.5 billion of their retirement money wasted when used under the "stimulus" plan as proposed by SSS head Romulo Neri, whose own credibility is shot with his involvement in the botched P16-billion NBN-ZTE broadband deal scandal, Roxas warned.

He proposed that President Arroyo and her allies in Congress back instead his proposal to give a one-time tax break of P5,000.00 to each of the country's four million fixed-income taxpayers.

While the tax break would cost P20 billion, this is money that taxpayers can be sure they can spend themselves and trigger faster economic activity, instead of seeing government waste it on inefficiency and corruption, he said.

"Sa panahon ngayong matindi ang krisis, mas mabuting hawak ng taumbayan ang perang ito sa kanilang kamay imbes na masayang lang at mapunta pa sa bulsa ng mga corrupt sa gobyerno. Okay lang sana kung pwedeng pagtiwalaan natin ang mga tao sa gobyerno na gamitin itong pondong ito ng tama, pero sinong maniniwala sa magnanakaw na nga ay mahilig pang magsinungaling? (In this time of crisis, it's better top keep this money in the people's hands instead of risking its going to the pockets of the corrupt in this government. It should be okay in normal circumstances, but who would believe someone who doesn't only steal your money but lies to you all the time?)," he said.

Roxas said Malacanang should also adopt the following strategic and prudent programs to meet the financial crisis:

1. Focus on rehabilitating or constructing small-scale irrigation systems instead of constructing large-scale dams. The former costs 1/3 the cost of dams and are faster to construct, thereby helping immediately cover the rice supply gap by 40%.

2. Close the classroom gap, improve sanitation in schools and expand school-feeding. These would not only immediately create jobs but also keep children in school and improve learning outcomes.

3. Engage in a Health Peace Corps program in all 45,000 barangays in the country. This would help employ surplus nurses and health workers.

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