Thoughts on the COA reports about SSS

I read the COA reports on SSS just a few days ago and i wonder

does COA also have the right to criticize the operations of SSS?  is this one of their powers? 

i dont really know, but is that legit?  not that i don think that the processing is really too slow.

people blame the sss employees for the slow processing, but is this really correct?

change is usually a management initiative and if people will remember,

SSS  used to have the so-called COS, short for Covenant of Service - instituted under Lani Nanagas

This was echoed in the ARTA, which is Anti-Red Tape Act,  which resulted in the Citizen's Charter, published under Secretary and PCEO Romy Neri.   processing times where even shaved a bit

Click here for the link to the pdf file for the Citizen's Charter 

so why the slowdown?  people say that the slowdown is due to changes in procedures

a lady member whose late husband was a VP in one of the tv channels said ...................

if the procedure is wrong, why not change it?  perhaps it is already being changed except that the transactions have really piled up ..........

I have a solution.  But alas, i havent been asked.  Is it the correct solution?  i dont know.  but it will speed up the process methinks.  Could be expensive, but i havent costed it out.  Still, with the BGC (Bonifacio Global City) sale, SSS would have the funds.  

well, everyone and his neighbor want the SSS processing to go faster and many think they have the solutions - i think so.  there are many solutions.  Implementation is the key.

Of course, there are many who are claiming for benefits and want it N-O-W!  Not tomorrow.  

I too have a claim and i am waiting for my benefit to clear ............

the other COA report is about the % of investments on loan to members being larger than the  allowed % in the SSS Charter.  this issue is old, and the reason is simple.  Members usually borrow before they get laid off, and when they get laid off, they are not able to pay, and when they get rehired, they dont pay at once.  Sound familiar?  Of course, hard to pay when you dont have the herewithal.

The unpaid debts increase SSS's loan to member portfolio.  COA says SSS should collect.  No doubt SSS wants these debts paid.  First of all, the SSS mandate is service to members.  While SSS is a mainly a retirement fund, it gives what is called short-term benefits, loans being one of these.  

Does COA want SSS to force members to pay?  how?  the only guarantee SSS holds that these debts will be paid upon final settlement.  Final settlement is  either death or retirement or permanent total disability.

In previous administrations, SSS has tried to collect by forcing suspension to the new employer if he doesnt deduct from employees who have loan balances.  there were condonations. condonations are nice but if granted too often is also bad because members tend to wait for these programs. conodations are also unfair to those who pay regularly.

SSS can suspend the granting of loans.  This will stop the increase in the portfolio.  But is that fair to the SSS members who pay "faithfully" and diligently? they should not be penalized for the others who did not pay.