Philippines pensions face up to default threat

The Philippines’ state pension schemes are in a parlous financial condition and in desperate need of reform, but the government has no money. A private sector solution is available and there is time to fix the problems, but only if politicians leave well alone. Chris Leahy reports.

Asia’s wall of money | The Pera imperitive

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO of the Social Security System, Corazon De La Paz, coaxes into life the reluctant air-conditioning system in her half-lit office in downtown Manila. “We have to turn off the air conditioning to save costs,” she says apologetically. “It’s part of the government’s drive against energy price rises.”

De La Paz knows a thing or two about saving money. Since her appointment to the SSS, the Philippines’ mandatory pension scheme for some 26 million private sector workers, she has had to eke out savings wherever she can find them just to keep the fund alive.

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