The funds of the Social Security System (SSS) may be affected by the growing number of unemployment in the country due to the global economic crisis.

"Ngayon ang problema talaga ay possible na ang mga contributions natin ay mababawasan ng konti. Kung may mawawalan ng trabaho, lalong kokonti ang mga workers na magku-contribute (Funds from the members’ contributions may be affected. If people lose jobs, fewer workers will contribute [to SSS]," SSS president Romulo Neri told radio dzMM.

He said improvements in SSS benefits may not also happen this because of the growing joblessness in the country "because it's very tight, maybe next year."

Despite the projected loss in contributions, Neri stood by the government's decision to require its financial institutions to chip in P12.5 billion funds for the economic resiliency plan.

Four state financial institutions, including SSS, Government Service and Insurance System, Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, will contribute P12.5 billion each to boost infrastructure in the country, Neri said

The P50-billion pot money will be part of the P100 billion economic resiliency fund as proposed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The business group has promised to provide the other P50 billion.

Neri assured SSS members that the P12.5 billion contribution is a good investment. He said the SSS and other government financial institutions will not enter into bad investments.

"It's like investing in government Treasury bond. Very, very safe investment. We do it all the time," the SSS secretary said.

Neri said that aside from the sure revenue, the government's economic resiliency fund will also help ease the country's unemployment problem, which has been aggravated by the global economic crisis.

He said the money will be used in infrastructure projects, including housing that is expected to create more jobs for Filipinos.

The labor department had said that at least 30,000 Filipinos have been kicked out of their jobs. It said more Filipinos may lose job this year, particularly those in the electronics and garments sector, because of the global recession.

Early this week, Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into the social security agency's P12.5 billion fund allocation.

Lacson said using the "hard-earned money" of SSS members for pro-poor programs and save private companies from being affected by the economic crisis could be unconstitutional.

The senator also aired suspicions that the money could be used by the administration in the 2010 presidential election.