Officials of the Social Security System (SSS) 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 covered transactions that occurred during the tenure of former SSS president Rolando Macasaet.

In a roundtable interview at DAILY TRIBUNE’s Makati office, current SSS president and chief executive officer Robert de Claro and Commissioner Alvin Limlingan clarified issues raised in the AAR — beginning with the widely discussed P92 toilet paper rolls.

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

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

“The 143,000 rolls of toilet paper purchased should be viewed in relation to our 850 toilets. That translates to about 162 rolls per toilet per year. If you divide that by 260 working days, that is less than one roll per day,” De Claro said.

He noted the SSS has some 7,300 employees, in addition to the daily visitors, which contributes to higher roll 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 is therefore not bound by its supply provisions. They also explained that the rolls kept in the supplier’s custody were intended for disposal and were 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 at a time when many SSS offices had already run out of toilet paper.

“The SSS procurement process takes more than three months. For economic reasons, we buy in bulk,” he said. “The problem arose because, at the time the new rolls were being delivered, the rolls scheduled for disposal overlapped.”

CoA noted that due to limited SSS storage capacity, 116,046 rolls were held at the supplier’s warehouse — an arrangement that SSS officials said 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.