NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s. No. ^404
IMB ^rnait
o( tijf feTtrftniy
72 OCT 20 A8:11
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ADJUSTING THE MONTHLY PENSION AND DISABILITY BENEFITS OF 
RETIREES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XVI, Section 8 of the Constitution mandates that "the State shall, from 
time to time, review to upgrade the pensions and other benefits due to retirees of 
both the government and private sectors."
Section 62 of Republic Act No. 7157 or the "Philippine Foreign Service Act of 
1991" provides that, "All permanent officers and employees of the Service who are 
citizens of the Philippines shall have compulsory insurance coverage under the rules 
and regulations governing the same: Provided, however, That the President upon 
recommendation of the Secretary may, as soon as practicable, submit for enactment 
by Congress 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."
Existing law recognizes the unique position of foreign service workers and 
officials who perform their mandated duties as public servants overseas. They take on 
sensitive diplomatic responsibilities of advancing the nation's interests in foreign lands, 
and respond to the varied concerns of millions of migrant Filipinos. They promote the


welfare and ensure the safety of overseas workers amid threats of war, natural 
calamities, economic recession, epidemics, and other crisis situations. Their valuable 
work in pursuing friendly and lasting international relations are enjoyed by all Filipinos 
in terms of enhanced national security, generation of jobs, entry of foreign 
investments, expanded trading, vibrant tourism sector, among many others.
This legislation proposes a foreign affairs retirement and disability system 
considering the complex nature of their work and hardships of overseas deployment. 
It also seeks to honor the hard work, professionalism and dedication of our foreign 
service personnel as the country's frontliners and flag-bearers in the international 
arena, through the institution of a decent and appropriate pension scheme.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
RAMON
»NG REVILLA, JR.
k4


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
Senate
of tl)f g). r-ftai7>
•22 OCT 20 A8:11
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ADJUSTING THE MONTHLY PENSION AND DISABILITY BENEFITS OF 
RETIREES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Foreign Affairs
2 
Retirement and Disability Benefits Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Covered Retirees and Retirement Benefits. -This Act shall apply to all
4 
retired officers and employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) who:
5 
a. Served in the Department for at least 15 years; and
6 
b. Are eligible to receive a monthly pension from the Government Service
7 
Insurance System (GSIS).
8 
They shall receive, during the residue of their natural life, an additional pension which
9 
shall be the difference between their monthly pension and the highest monthly salary
10 
of an incumbent officer or employee, occupying the same or equivalent rank, and
11 
subject to further adjustment as provided under this Act.
12 
This Act shall also apply prospectively to DFA officers and employees who
13 
retired prior to the effectivity of this Act.
14 
All other officers and employees of the DFA, who have also retired after serving
15 
in the DFA but who have not met all the abovementioned requirements, shall instead
16 
be covered by applicable benefits under the GSIS Act, as amended.
17 
Sec. 3. Adjustment of Monthly Pension. - The monthly pension benefits of all


1 
retirees of the DFA, as provided under Republic Act No. 7157 or the '‘'Philippine Foreign
2 
Service Act of 1991" shall, upon the effectivity of this Act, be automatically adjusted
3 
to the existing rate, and any subsequent increase thereof, of the salary grade of the
4 
rank they held upon their retirement.
5 
Sec. 4. Additional Entitlements. - All officers and employees covered by Section
6 
2 of this Act, shall be eligible for disability and death benefits in the same manner
7 
provided under the GSIS Act, as amended, and other relevant laws.
8 
Sec. 5. Exemption of Pension from Income Tax, Attachment, Levy,
9 
Garnishment - Any pension granted to a beneficiary under this Act shall not, wholly
10 
or partly, be subject to income tax, attachment, execution, forfeiture, or retention
11 
under any legal or equitable proceedings, nor shall any lien of any kind or under any
12 
consideration be imposed thereon.
13 
Sec. 6. Survivorship Benefits. - In case of death of a DFA retiree or personnel
14 
who has met the requirements provided in Section 2, the following shall be entitled to
15 
receive the adjusted retirement benefits that the deceased was receiving or entitled
16 
to receive:
17 
(a) Their surviving spouse, during their lifetime, or until they remarry; and
18 
(b) Their dependent minor children.
19 
Said benefits shall be distributed or apportioned in accordance with the GSIS
20 
Act, as amended.
21 
Sec. 7. Appropriation and Funding Source. - The differential funding
22 
requirements for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the
23 
current year's savings of the DFA. Thereafter, the annual differential amount
24 
necessary for GSIS to pay the adjusted monthly pension and other benefits to
25 
implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations
26 
Act annually, to be sourced from the DFA's annual consular income as a percentage
27 
thereof.
28 
Sec. 8. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days
29 
after the effectivity of this Act, DFA shall issue the necessary ruies and regulations for
30 
the effective implementation of this Act, in coordination with relevant government
31 
agencies.
32 
Sec. 9. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or


1 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force
2 
and effect.
3 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, or rules and
4 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
5 
accordingly.
6 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
7 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
8 
the Philippines.
Approved,