Barangay Officials Retirement Benefits Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 14 P4:05 SENATE RECENIDE Senate Bill No. 580 Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri GRANTING RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO ALL ELECTIVE OR APPOINTIVE BARANGAY OFFICIALS WHO HAVE RENDERED A CONSECUTIVE PERIOD OF NINE (9) YEARS OR THREE TERMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE BARANGAY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Barangay officials are a fundamental pillar in the realm of public administration as they tend to the needs of their constituents with accessibility and immediacy that officials in larger government units cannot address. Barangays serve as the primary planning and implementing unit of government programs and projects. However, these public officials do not receive adequate compensation for the public service that they provide. Receiving meager stipend, these barangay officials are left with little to no ability for any potential of savings. This is especially concerning given how many of our barangay officials maintain their position as their lone profession to better focus on their role as public servants. As a result of the lack of financial stability provided by their position, many barangay officials often struggle to get by after taking their leave from public service. They have no social security and are forced to seek alternative avenues of income for their day-to-day expenses instead of enjoying the benefits of their years in public service. In answer to this concern, this bill seeks to grant retirement benefits to barangay officials who have rendered nine (9) years of consecutive service or three terms of public service. Once these officials are socially secure and stable, they will be free to devote themselves more fully to the demands of their position, and the State will be able to encourage a more effective and vibrant brand of leadership in barangays throughout the nation. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently sought. JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 14 P4:05 SENATE RECEIVED 5: Senate Bill No._ 580 Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri GRANTING RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO ALL ELECTIVE OR APPOINTIVE BARANGAY OFFICIALS WHO HAVE RENDERED A CONSECUTIVE PERIOD OF NINE (9) YEARS OR THREE TERMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE BARANGAY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Officials

2 Retirement Benefits Act of 2022".

SEC. 2. Retirement Benefits. - All elective and appointive barangay officials

4 who have rendered a consecutive period of nine (9) years or three terms of honorable 5 service as barangay official and have opted for retirement shall receive retirement 6 benefits provided in this Act.

SEC. 3. Amount of Benefit - A barangay official entitled to retirement benefits

under this Act shall receive a monthly pension for life amounting to not less than sixty 9 five percent (65%) of the monthly average honoraria, allowances and other emoluments 10 authorized by law or by city, municipal or barangay ordinance.

SEC. 4. Administration of Retirement System. - Within sixty (60) days from

12 the approval of this Act, the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS) shall establish and administer an appropriate system under which barangay officials shall enjoy retirement benefits. The GSIS shall undertake actuarial study to determine the funding requirement for the operation and maintenance of the retirement system. The amount so determined shall be initially charged to the appropriations of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the retirement system, shall be included in the annual budget of the municipality or 20 city to which the barangay belongs.

The initial appropriations provided by the DILG and the subsequent annual budgets provided by the municipal and city government for the operation and maintenance of the retirement system shall be released to the GSIS.

SEC. 5. Rules and Regulations. - The GSIS, in coordination with the DILG,

shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Existing Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to diminish,

in any way, any existing benefits provided by laws, rules and regulations, local ordinances or any other issuances to barangay officials.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause, - All laws, decrees, executive orders and other

issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. Approved,