Bandar seri begawan: The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on Tuesday spearheaded a regional initiative aimed at bolstering trust and unity among social security institutions across Southeast Asia. This move comes as Jose Arnulfo ‘Wick’ Veloso, President and General Manager of GSIS, assumes the chairship of the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA).

According to Philippines News Agency, Veloso, in his keynote address at the 42nd ASSA Board Meeting held in Brunei, called on his counterparts to become ‘master architects of trust.’ He emphasized the importance of shaping social protection systems that are transparent, accountable, and built on integrity. Veloso described trust as the ‘currency’ of the social security world, highlighting its crucial role in underpinning every contribution, claim, and policy.

Veloso introduced ‘The Architecture of Trust’ as a guiding theme for the association. He elaborated on the concept, stating that integrity serves as the foundation, while transparency and accountability are the pillars. Solidarity, he added, acts as the roof providing shelter to the region’s workers and pensioners. The Brunei meeting builds on the achievements of the previous ASSA conference in Manila, where member states renewed their cooperation by signing the ASSA Sustainability Pledge.

In his address, Veloso urged regional leaders to view themselves not just as fund administrators but as ‘custodians of hope.’ He encouraged them to design systems that inspire confidence and offer lasting security to citizens. Veloso concluded by calling on his peers to continue building structures of trust that endure beyond their tenures and benefit future generations.

The two-day meeting brought together heads of pension and social insurance institutions from ASEAN member-states. The objective was to discuss strategies that harmonize policies and reinforce collaboration under a shared vision of trust and resilience.