FOURTEENTH CONGRESS THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SENATE 1 
Introduced by SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Former Senate President Senator Neptali A. Gonzales once said: 
"Congress, particularly the Senate, has become a great and strong 
institution of representative democracy. Because of the broad 
national mandate granted by the Constitution to Congress, if 
becomes the task of the Secretariat of both Houses to give their 
unqualified and professional support to senators and congressmen." 
This bill seeks to create and maintain a pool of strong, dedicated and 
competent public servants in the field of legislation to ensure that our elected 
Senators and congressmen are provided the much-needed administrative and 
technical support to carry out their roles in a representative democracy. 
The establishment of a Legislative Career Service would allow the 
admission and training of competent and qualified civil servants in Congress. 
There is no doubt that the functions of Congress have gone beyond that of 
plenary work. Committee hearings and legislative inquires have to be conducted 
on various socio-economic and political issues that confront our nation. 
Legislative research, bill drafting and administrative management have to be 
undertaken to complement the lawmaking duties of our legislators. The role of 
the Secretariat as a support system in the Congress, therefore, becomes unique ad 
specialized. Thus, the qualification standards of legislative personnel are specific 
and must conform not only to the Civil Service rules but also to parliamentary 
rules, precedents, practices, and traditions. 
This proposed measure likewise seeks the creation of a Legislative Career 
Service Board to ensure the recruitment and training of a service-wide pool of 
properly selected and development-oriented legislative corps and devises a 
retirement scheme for all officers and employees in the Legislative Career 
Service. 


Now is the time to acknowledge, through this bill, the men and women 
behind the work of the senators and representatives of the people if only for heir 
untiring support and dedication to this great poIitical institution. 
I therefore seek the support of this Body for the approval of this measure 
c": 
SENATOR 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. x3 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE CAREER SERVICE 
OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES BY ESTABLISHING A 
LEGISLATIVE CAREER SERVICE, PROVIDING BENEFITS FOR ITS 
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Legislative Career Service. - There shall be established a 
Legislative Career Service for Congress composed of the following: 
(a) The Legislative Career Service Officers (LCSO) -to include the positions of the 
Deputy Secretary of the Senate, Deputy Secretary General of the House of 
Representatives, Deputy Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, and 
their equivalents, Executive Director, Bureau Director, Assistant Bureau Director, 
Service Chief, down to Director I Level, and equivalent levels which involve 
professional and technical work in a supervisory capacity; 
(b) The Legislative Career Service Employees (LCS€) - to include Legislative Staff 
Officer positions which involve professional and technical work in a non- 
supervisory capacity; 
(c) The Legislative Sub-career Service (LSCS) - to include Legislative Staff 
Assistant Employee positions which involve clerical, trades, crafts and custodial 
services in a non-supervisory capacity. 
SECTION 2. Coverage. - The Legislative Career Service (LCS) shall 
include the officers and employees of the Senate, 'the House of Representatives 
and the Commission on Appointments. 


SECTION 3. Objective. - It is the purpose of this measure to 
professionalize, upgrade and strengthen the work force of the Legislative 
Department to ensure that Congress and its Members shall be provided with 
qualified, efficient and effective legislative, administrative and security support 
services. Towards this end, a continuing pool of competent and development- 
oriented legislative career service officers and employees shall be established and 
maintained. 
SECTION 4. Legislative Career Service Board. - There shall be a 
Legislative Career Service Board hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be 
composed of the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House, 
as Co-Chairmen; one (1) Career Official to be designated by the President of the 
Senate, one (1) Career Official to be designated by the Speaker of the House, and 
the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. The two (2) Career Officials for 
both Houses shall serve for a term of three (3) years. 
SECTION 5. Functions ofthe Board. - The Board shall: 
(a) Determine and evaluate the qualification of the applicants for LCSO 
positions; 
(b) Prepare the examination questions for LCSO positions and conduct the 
examination, correct and rate examination papers in coordination with the 
Civil Service Commission and submit the results to the President of the 
Senate and Speaker of the House; 
(c) Conduct an annual review of the qualifications of LCSO and 
recommend deserving officers for appointment to the rank of LCSO; 
(d) Establish and conduct a performance evaluation system for LCSOs; 
(e) Keep a roster of those who have passed the LCSO examinations; and 
(f) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the President of 
the Senate or the Speaker of the House pursuant to its mandate. 
SETION 6. Legislative Career Service Oflcers (LCSO) Eligibility. - LCSO 
eligibility shall be conferred by the Board to any person who meets such 
managerial and legislative experience and competence, leadership qualities and 
other relevant qualifications, and passes the examination prescribed by the 
Board. 
The examination shall consist of two stages: (a) Legislative/management 
aptitude test; and (b) Assessment of managerial capability and competence. 
Those who pass the managerial assessment will be subject to a validation 
process involving their superiors in order to ascertain their on-the-job 
performance. 
Successful completion of the managerial assessment and favorable results 
of the validation process and a final interview by the Board shall qualify the 
candidate for the grant of LCSO eligibility. 


Any incumbent officer or employee who is a Career Executive Service 
(CES) eligible prior to the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be conferred 
LCSO eligibility. 
SECTION 7. Qualfication Requirements. - An applicant for LCSO 
(a) A Bachelor’s degree; 
(b) Not be over fifty-five (55) years of age; 
(c) Must be a citizen of the Philippines; and 
(d) Must not have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a 
crime involving moral aptitude. 
eligibility must possess the following qualifications: 
SECTION. 8. Appointments. - Appointments to appropriate positions in 
the Legislative Career Service shall be made by the President of the Senate, the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives OY the Chairman of the Commission on 
Appointments, as the case may be. 
No person shall be eligible for appointment to any position in the 
Legislative Career Service unless he/she meets the qualification standards 
approved by the Legislative Career Service Board (LCSB) which shall at least be 
at par with the standards set by the Civil Service Commission. 
SECTION 9. Incumbents. - Upon approval of this Act, an incumbent, or 
an employee officially discharging the duties, of a regular career position herein 
classified as an LCSO position shall be accorded LCSO eligibility and shall enjoy 
security of tenure. 
SECTION 10. Retirement Benefits. - Retirement shall be compulsory for 
an officer or employee in the Legislative Career Service upon reaching the age of 
sixty-five (65) years: Provided, That he/she has rendered at least fifteen (15) 
years of service in the government, three (3) years of which have been 
continuously rendered in the Legislative Department. If he/she has rendered less 
than fifteen (15) years of service, he/she shall be allowed to continue in Service 
up to a maximum of one (1) year, subject to Civil Service rules and regulations. 
Upon compulsory retirement, an officer or employee shall be entitled to a 
monthly pension for the duration of his/her natural life equivalent to the salary 
of the incumbent of the position he was retired from and a lump sum gratuity of 
five (5) years or sixty (60) months multiplied by two (2) months salary plus the 
highest monthly aggregate of transportation, living and representation 
allowances received at the time of retirement. 
An officer or employee who has reached the age of sixty (60) years with at 
least Fifteen (15) years of service in government, the last three (3) years of which 
have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, may opt to 
retire under the compulsory retirement plan: Provided, That he/she shall be 
entitled to a monthly pension only upon the lapse of five (5) years from 
retirement. 


Likewise an incumbent who has availed of any prior optional retirement plan 
and has an accumulated thirty (30) years of service in government, three (3) years 
of which have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, shall 
be given full credit for services rendered by him/her prior to his/her 
reinstatement and shall receive the full benefits granted under this Act if he/she 
retires under the compulsory retirement plan: Provided, That he/she refunds all 
pensions and retirement benefits previously received. 
All pension benefits ofretired officers and employees of the Legislative 
Department shall be automatically increased whenever there is an increase in the 
salary of the same position from which he/she retired. 
Except for the retirement benefits granted herein, officials and employees 
of the Legislative Career Service shall remain covered by the compulsory life 
insurance program of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and 
shall therefore be entitled to and may avail of GSlS benefits: Provided, That the 
corresponding personal and employer share for the life insurance coverage is 
paid and remitted. 
SECTION 11. Suvvivovship Benefits. - Upon the death of an officer or 
employee who has been retired, his/ her surviving spouse and surviving 
legitimate minor children shall receive in equal shares seventy percent (70%) of 
the monthly retirement pay which he/she has been receiving at the time of 
his/her death Provided, That no payment under this Section shall be made to 
the surviving spouse who remarries. 
SECTION 12. Optional Retirement. - An officer or employee, who has 
rendered an accumulated twenty (20) years of government service, the last three 
(3) years of which have been continuously rendered in the Legislative 
Department, may choose to retire from the service under the optional retirement 
plan subject to the approval of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the 
House $Representatives, as the case may be. 
Incumbents who have rendered at least ten (IO) years of continuous 
service in Congress at the time of the adoption of this Act may likewise avail of 
the optional retirement. He/she shall be entitled to receive a lump sum gratuity 
equivalent to two (2) months salary for every year of service plus highest 
monthly aggregate of transportation, living and representation allowances as of 
the date of his/her retirement. 
A retiree under this Section shaIl not be eligible for appointment to or 
employment in Congress whether on a permanent, temporary, casual or 
emergency status within a period of three (3) years after retirement. 
An officer or employee who has been separated from the service shall be 
given full credit for services rendered by him prior to his reinstatement for 
purposes of determining his/ her retirement or separation benefits under this Ad: 
Provided, That he/she refunds all pensions and retirement benefits previously 
received. 


An officer or employee who shall retire under the compulsory or optional 
retirement plan shall be entitled to a refund of GSlS personal contributions and 
the corresponding share of the government with interest earned. Likewise, all 
retiring officers and employees shall be entitled to the commutation of unused 
vacation and sick leave in accordance with existing rules and regulations. 
SECTION 13. Separation Benefits. -When an officer or employee is 
permanently incapacitated to discharge the duties of his/her office, or dies while 
in the service or is otherwise separated from the service for reasons beyond 
his/her control and who is not qualified far retirement under Section 10 hereof, 
he/she or his/her heirs shall be paid a lump sum equivalent to two (2) months 
salary for every year of service, computed on the basis of the last monthly salary 
plus the highest monthly aggregate of transportation, living and representation 
allowances which he was receiving on the date of his incapacity, death or 
separation from the service. The Secretary of the Senate shall properly certify 
this, the Secretary General of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the 
Commission on Appointments, as the case may be. 
SECTION 14. Suspensiow’Deprivation of Benefits. - Benefits due under 
this Act to any officer or employee shall be withheld if the officer or employee 
has unliquidated accounts or any pending administrative, criminal or civil case 
connected with his or her position. If the officer or employee is found guilty, all 
benefits shall be forfeited; otherwise, the benefit shall be paid in full plus interest 
as soon as the officer or employee is cleared of all charges. 
SECTION 15. Retirement Benefits of the Secretay of the Senate, tke 
Secretay General of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of both 
Houses, The Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Commission on 
Appointments, and Co-Terminus Employees. - The Secretary of the Senate, the 
Secretary General of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of both 
Houses, the Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Commission on 
Appointments, and co-terminus staff of the Members of Congress and of the 
Commission on Appointments, with at least fifteen (15) years of service in the 
government, the last three (3) years of which have been continuously rendered in 
the Senate, the House of Representatives or the Commission on Appointments, 
may avail of the retirement and separation benefits subject to the conditions 
provided under Sections 10, 11,12, and 13 hereof. 
, 
SECTION 16. Enforcement of Retirement Benefits. - The Senate of the 
Philippines, the House of Representatives and the Commission on Appointments, 
or their successors shall take charge of the enforcement and operation of 
retirement benefits under this Act and no officer or employee of Congress shall 
be entitled to receive any gratuity or pension herein provided for unless from the 
month following the approval of this Act, in case of an actual incumbent, or from 
the month following his/her appointment and qualification as such, in case of a 
future appointment, he/she shall have contributed to the retirement funds, by 
paying a monthly contribution equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her basic 
monthly salary, three percent (3%) shall be allotted for insurance premium and 
seven percent (7%) for retirement, with employer counterpart of twelve percent 


(12%). The retirement fund shall be held in trust by the Government Service 
Insurance System which fund shall be made available for the payment of the 
benefits under this Act. In case of deficiency in the fund, the deficiency shall be 
paid out of the appropriation of either the Senate of the Philippines, the House of 
Representatives and the Commission on Appointments, or their successors. 
The President of the Senate and/or Speaker of 
the House of 
Representatives may avail of management and technical assistance of the GSlS or 
enter into an agreement concerning the administration and operation of the 
retirement funds of their respective Houses. They may jointly or separately, 
authorize the GSlS or any other government financing institution to invest the 
investible amounts of the said retirement funds in accordance with existing laws 
and sound and prudent investment policies and practices. 
SECTION 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the 
House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, shall jointly promulgate such rules and regulations for 
the proper implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 18. Appropriations. - The amount needed to carry out the 
initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's 
Appropriations for the Organizations Adjustment Fund and Miscellaneous 
Benefits Fund. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 19. Separability Clause. -Any portion or provision of this Act 
that may be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other 
portions or provisions thereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist 
and be given effect in their entirety. 
SECTION 20. Repealing Clause. -All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts 'thereof, inconsistent herewith, are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 21. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved