Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT PROGRAM UNDER THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), IMPLEMENTING SECTION 62 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT 7157 ALSO KNOWN AS THE "FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1991" 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 7157, otherwise known as the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, was 
passed into law on September 19, 1991. Section 63 of the said law provides that “the President 
upon recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may, as soon as practicable, submit for 
enactment by Congress of a foreign affairs retirement and disability system, taking into account 
the difficulties of foreign service personnel in setting aside sufficient savings to take care their 
eventual retirement in the Philippines due to old age or some other disability, with the increased 
burden of establishing a home in the Philippines after completion of their tour of duty abroad.”  
At present, there is still no law passed to implement the above provision. In this regard, this 
measure is humbly proposed with the intent of providing both present and future retirees with 
foreign service support that is adequate and responsive to their needs and to reassure them that 
their dedication and loyalty to the Filipino people are not forgotten. This measure provides for the 
automatic adjustment of the monthly pension of covered members of the Foreign Service and 
other additional entitlements such as disability and death benefits as provided under RA 8291 
and other relevant laws. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 6, 2022
9:40 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT PROGRAM UNDER THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), IMPLEMENTING SECTION 62 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT 7157 ALSO KNOWN AS THE "FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1991" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – Article XVI, Section 8 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution 
states that “the State shall from time-to-time review to upgrade the pensions and benefits due to 
retirees of both government and private sectors.” It is the policy of this bill to provide an adequate 
and reasonable retirement program to the members of the Philippine Foreign Service and to 
implement section 62 of Republic Act No. 7151 also known as the Foreign Service Act of 1971, 
which remained unimplemented for thirty (30) years and states among others that “the President 
upon recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may, as soon as practicable, submit for 
enactment by Congress of a foreign affairs retirement and disability system, taking into account 
the difficulties of foreign service personnel in setting aside sufficient savings to take care their 
eventual retirement in the Philippines due to old age or some other disability, with the increased 
burden of establishing a home in the Philippines after completion of their tour of duty abroad.” 
SEC. 2. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all officers and personnel of the Foreign Service who 
retired before the enactment of this Act and will retire after the effectivity of this Act, provided the 
following conditions are met: 
1. Service in the Department or other agencies of the government for at least fifteen (15)
years;
2. Members of and are eligible to receive a monthly pension from the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS).
SEC. 3. Automatic Adjustment of Monthly Pension. – The monthly pension of all members of 
the Foreign Service covered under this Act shall be automatically adjusted at the same rate as 
any future or the subsequent increase in the salary grade of the same rank he or she retired from. 
SEC. 4. Additional Entitlements. – All officers and employees by this Act shall be eligible for 
disability and death benefits as provided under RA 8291 and other relevant laws.  
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SEC. 5. Funding. – Funding for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the member-
government contribution of the DFA, by RA 8291.  
Differential funding for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced from any available savings 
of the DFA, and the percentage of the annual consular income of the DFA as included in the 
General Appropriations Act.  
 
To ensure that the cost of this Retirement Program is adequately met, DFA and GSIS shall meet 
every year to discuss the yearly funding requirement. Such funds necessary to meet the yearly 
funding requirement which is beyond the GSIS mandated contribution shall be for the account of 
the DFA. The DFA shall remit to the GSIS as many funds as may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Program.  
 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred eighty days (180 days) 
after the effectiveness of this Act, the GSIS and the DFA shall jointly draft and issue the rules and 
regulations for the implementation of this Act.  
 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.  
 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters 
of instruction, administrative orders, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC.9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,