SSS debunks COA tissue issue

Officials from the Social Security System (SSS) have addressed several misconceptions about the agency amid heightened public scrutiny following the release of the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2024 Annual Audit Report (AAR) on the government insurance provider. The report covers transactions that occurred under former SSS President Rolando Macasaet.

In a roundtable with DAILY TRIBUNE Monday, SSS CEO and President Robert de Claro and Commissioner Alvin Limlingan clarified issues raised in the AAR—beginning with the widely discussed P92 tissue paper rolls.

COA reported that the SSS had purchased 143,424 rolls of toilet paper worth P13.195 million, or roughly P92 per roll. Initial reactions compared this figure with the retail price of standard household toilet paper, which typically ranges from P10 to P50 per roll.

However, SSS officials explained that the rolls procured were closer to commercial-grade paper towel rolls—heavier, thicker, and similar to those used in public restrooms. These typically retail for P90 to P200, depending on size and ply count.

“Yung biniling tissue paper na 143,000 rolls, i-relate mo yan sa 850 toilets. That's 162 rolls per toilet per year. Ngayon, i-divide mo by 260 working days, less than 1 roll per day yan,” de Claro said. He added that SSS has around 7,300 employees, plus daily visitors, contributing to higher consumption.

COA also flagged the agency for allegedly exceeding the two-month supply limit and for allowing the supplier to retain 116,046 rolls.

The officials clarified that the SSS is not covered by the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and therefore is not bound by its supply provisions. They also explained that the rolls in the supplier’s custody were for disposal, temporarily stored off-site due to limited warehouse space.

“We are not part of [the] GAA,” de Claro said, emphasizing that SSS operations are not funded by the national government. He explained that the bulk purchase was made during a period when many SSS offices had run out of toilet paper.

“Ang procurement process ng SSS goes [for] more than 3 months. So for economics, bumili ng bulto,” he said. “Nagkaproblema lang kasi, nung time na idedeliver [ang mga bagong rolls], yung mga for disposal namin, nag-abot,” he added.

COA noted that due to limited SSS storage capacity, 116,046 rolls were held at the supplier’s warehouse—an arrangement officials say was made in compliance with COA guidance.

De Claro and Limlingan said the agency remains committed to improving services for SSS members through streamlined operations and enhanced transparency under the current leadership.