REPRESS
< AN
Republic of the Philippines S RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [{2 pare 27 AUG 208
Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4074

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, locos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 8291, also known as the “Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) Act of 1997,” provides that a minimum of fifteen (15)
years of government service is generally required to qualify for full retirement
benefits. However, many employees are forced to leave their positions after
nine (9) years or more due to career changes, health issues, political shifts, or
organizational restructuring. As a result, they are unable to complete the
required years of service and often miss out on the full benefits they have
earned-benefits that they have rightfully earned and deserve for dedicating
their prime years in government service.

This bill seeks to propose a solution by permitting voluntary GSIS
membership for individuals with at least 9 years of government service,
allowing them to continue paying both employer and employee contributions
until they accumulate 15 years of credited service. This would qualify them for
full retirement and other GSIS benefits, even after leaving government
employment.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

ANGELO MARCOS BARBA

Be


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4074

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2” District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP IN THE
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS),
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. — A subsection is herein inserted after Section 3 of Republic
Act No. 8291 (R.A. No. 8291), also known as “The Government Service
Insurance Act of 1997,” to read as follows:

“SECTION 3A. VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP. - ANY
MEMBER WHO HAS RENDERED AT LEAST NINE (9) YEARS
OF SERVICE IN THE GOVERNMENT MAY OPT TO CONTINUE
PAYING FOR THE REMAINING CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED
FOR ENTITLEMENT TO FULL BENEFITS UNDER THIS ACT:
PROVIDED, THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE
REMAINING MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS BY BOTH THE
GOVERNMENT AND THE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE ENTIRELY
BORNE BY THE MEMBER.”

SECTION 2. - Section 4 of R.A. No. 8291 is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“SECTION 4. Effect of Separation from the Service. - A member
separated from the service shall continue to be entitled to whatever
benefits he has qualified to in the event of any contingency compensable
under this Act[-] WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE RIGHT OF THE


SAID MEMBER TO OPT FOR VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP TO
THE GSIS AS PROVIDED IN THE PRECEDING SECTION.”

SECTION 3. - Section 13 (b) of R.A. No. 8291 is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“SECTION 13. Retirement Benefits. -
XXX

(b) Unless the service is extended by appropriate authorities,
retirement shall be compulsory for an employee at sixty-five (65) years of
age with at least fifteen (15) years of service: Provided, That an employee
who has less than fifteen (15) years of service, the employee may be
allowed to continue in the service in accordance with existing civil service
rules and regulations: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT AN
EMPLOYEE WHO HAS RENDERED AT LEAST NINE (9) YEARS
OF GOVERNMENT SERVICE MAY AVAIL OF THE VOLUNTARY
MEMBERSHIP PROVIDED IN SECTION 3A HEREOF FOR THE
PURPOSE OF COMPLETING THE CONTRIBUTIONS
EQUIVALENT TO FIFTEEN (15) YEARS OF SERVICE FOR
ENTITLEMENT TO FULL BENEFITS UNDER THIS ACT.”

SECTION 4. — Section 13-A of R.A. No. 8291 is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“SECTION 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 SUCH MEMBER:

(a) [he] has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service, OR HAS
COMPLETED THE CONTRIBUTIONS EQUIVALENT TO
FIFTEEN (15) YEARS AS A VOLUNTARY MEMBER OF
THE GSIS PURSUANT TO SECTION 3A OF THIS ACT.

(2)[fhe-hes] is at least sixty (60) years of age at the time of
retirement; and

(3) [he] is not receiving a monthly pension benefit from permanent
total disability.”

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within
ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.


SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules, and
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,