Retiree cash package of P20,000 due to be disbursed next month
THE Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) said it will start disbursing its one-time P20,000 cash package for retirees starting next month.
In a briefing Thursday, ECC Executive Director Stella Zipagan-Banawis said the one-time cash aid will be automatically released along with the retirees’ regular pensions. She said pensioners do not have to apply for the P20,000 assistance by going to the Social Security System or the Government Service Insurance System.
“Mag-uumpisa ito mari-release itong Mayo. Meron naman pong schedule ang ating mga pensioners halimbawa tulad ng mga private pensioners kung kailan mare-receive ang pension nila kasama ng P20,000 doon (We will start releasing in May. The pensioners will have a schedule — in the case of private-sector pensioners, they will get the P20,000 along with their regular pensions),” she said.
Ms. Zipagan-Banawis said 20,000 private-sector pensioners and 12,000 public-sector retirees will benefit from the package.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered the packages to be drawn up while appearing on television earlier this month. The release is authorized by Administrative Order No. 39 and covers EC pensioners classified as permanently partially disabled, permanently totally disabled, or are survivors of a person eligible for a pension.
The ECC said it hopes to fully release the package within two or three months. The assistance will cover all EC pensioners who have received at least one form of pension assistance between January 2020 and May 2021. — Gillian M. Cortez
