Social Security System (SSS) personnel are indignant over the insistence of management to implement a P1.6-billion unified ID deal for the fund's 27 million members as well as the reported plan to extend the services of SSS President Romulo Neri’s nephew, who sports the title special assistant to his uncle.

But Neri said on Monday that he did not extend the services of his nephew, Antonio Neri Echevarria.

“I did not extend his term because he's a coterminous, when I go on June 30, he'll go. I have no authority to extend his term,” Neri said in a phone interview.

In letters written to the SSS board, union officers and rank-and-file employees said Echevarria has already written an 11-page accomplishment report to SSS Chairman Thelmo Cunanan, who promptly endorsed the latter's appeal to be retained by SSS last May 25.

However, union officers have slammed the attempt at prolonging Echevarria's stay at the fund that manages P250 billion in assets, 5,000 employees in 133 branches and representative offices in 17 countries.

Rank-and-file employees claimed that Echevarria was instrumental in crafting the Unified Multi-purpose Identification System (UMID) that would also cover GSIS, Pag-Ibig and PhilHealth and would cost each member P140.

Instead of awarding the deal to a private consortium, Neri has offered PhilPost to act as contractor which would build “capture stations” across the country, with SSS shouldering the cost to the tune of P100 per member.

SSS employees claimed PhilPost is practically bankrupt and the SS might end up lending the agency the money to buy equipment, computer software and paraphernalia at minimal interest.

But said the SSS board has yet to receive the letter of complaint from the pension fund's personnel.

He also clarified that PhilPost is not bankrupt and it is capable to enroll all SSS members to the new identification system of the pension fund.

“We chose PhilPost because it's a fellow state-firm and it has 2,200 branches nationwide, who among our state-owned firms have that coverage?” Neri asked.

“If PhilPost is bankrupt, why does the government still use it as our official courier?” he added.