President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced a landmark reform to the Social Security System (SSS) on Wednesday, unveiling a multi-year pension increase that will benefit over 3.8 million Filipino pensioners starting this September.

Speaking at the ceremonial launch of the SSS Pension Reform Program at the SSS Main Office in Quezon City, Marcos emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring comfort and dignity for Filipino workers in their retirement years.

For the first time in the SSS’s 68-year history, pension hikes will be implemented over multiple years: Retirement and disability pensioners will receive a 10% annual increase and Death and survivorship pensioners will get a 5% annual increase.

These adjustments will be applied every September until 2027, injecting an estimated **₱93 billion** into the economy over three years.

“Taon-taon itong tataas hanggang 2027 nang walang dagdag na kontribusyon mula sa mga miyembro ng SSS,” Marcos assured, highlighting that the increase will not require additional member contributions.

The President framed the reform as part of his administration’s broader push for “ginhawa sa Bagong Pilipinas” (comfort in the New Philippines), aiming to deliver fair and timely social protection to retirees, dependents, and surviving beneficiaries.

Unlike the ₱1,000 across-the-board increase granted in 2017—which led to contribution hikes to sustain the fund—this reform is designed to be financially sustainable without burdening current members.

The event also marked the official declaration of National Pensioners’ Week, to be celebrated every second week of September, recognizing the contributions of senior citizens and promoting awareness of their welfare. (PNA)