..: 16D oman rare. TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P6:11 SO AT27 S.B. No. RECEIVED BT: Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS PROVIDING AN OPTION TO ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICALS TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), TO ENABLE THEM TO COMPLETE THE MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF AVAILING RETIREMENT AND OTHER APPLICABLE BENEFITS, THEREBY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997" EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 8 Article XVI of the 1987 Constitution states that "The State shall,
from time to time, review to upgrade the pensions and other benefits due to retirees of both the government and the private sectors." The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is the social security program for government workers. It provides pension benefits for all government workers except those covered by separate retirement laws, such as the members of the Judiciary, Constitutional Commissions, and the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Elected officials from local government units can only stay in office for three consecutive terms or a total of nine years, while elected officials from the national legislature are elected to a six-year term and can serve for not more than two consecutive terms or twelve years. As such, many elected officials are unable to receive pension coverage as they do not complete the minimum number of fifteen years of service.
This measure provides an option to elected officials to make voluntary contributions to the GSIS Fund, allowing them to complete the minimum years of contribution for purposes of availing retirement and other applicable benefits to recognize the efforts exerted by them. The immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. Time i. marca IMEE R. MARCOS /
Sariou are reg TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P6:11 SENATE RECENED BI. S.B. No. Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS AN ACT PROVIDING AN OPTION TO ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICALS TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), TO ENABLE THEM TO COMPLETE THE MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF AVAILING RETIREMENT AND OTHER APPLICABLE BENEFITS, THEREBY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 13 (b) of Republic Act No. 8291 otherwise known as
"The Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997" is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 13. Retirement Benefits. - XXX "(b) Unless the service is extended by appropriate authorities, retirement shall be compulsory for an employee of sixty-five (65) years of age with at least fifteen (15) years of service: Provided, That an employee has less than fifteen (15) years of service, the employee may be allowed to continue in the service in 10 accordance with existing civil service rules and regulations; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SERVED FOR AT LEAST NINE (9) YEARS, SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN THE GSIS AND TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLETING THE MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR ENTITLEMENT OF THE BENEFITS UNDER THIS ACT."
SEC. 2. Section 13-A of Republic Act No. 8291 otherwise known as "The
Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997" is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 13-A. Conditions for Entitlement. - A member who retires from the service shall be entitled to the retirement benefits enumerated in paragraph (a) of
Section 13 hereof: Provided, that:
"(1) [he] THE MEMBER has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service, OR IN THE CASE OF AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO HAS SERVED FOR AT LEAST NINE (9) YEARS AND AVAILED OF THE OPTION TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS, AS PROVIDED IN SEC. 13 (B); "(2) [he] THE MEMBER is at least sixty (60) years of age at the time retirement; and "(3) [he] THE MEMBER is not receiving a monthly pension benefit from permanent total disability."
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law or parts thereof inconsistent with any
provision of this Act shall be deemed repealed, but without prejudice to any liability
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,