Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

16" Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 1273

Introduced by Honorable Sergio A. F. Aposto!

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Members of the Congress of the Philippines - Senators and Representatives —
serve as direct representatives of the sovereign people. As such, they are vital and
indispensable cogs in the machinery of government. In the tripartite scheme of our
bureaucracy, they constitute a co-equal, co-important, and co-ordinate branch alongside
the other two (2) branches — the Executive and the Judiciary. Their combined legislative
output comprises the bulk of the laws that reign supreme in our democratic and
republican regime.

Thus, it is but just, fitting and appropriate that the Members of Congress who
have served their full term of office — twelve (12) consecutive years for Senators and
nine (9) consecutive years for Representatives — shall be considered or deemed as
having retired from the service and rewarded with entitlement to the same retirement
benefits presently enjoyed by retired Members of the Judiciary, a co-equal branch,
Members of the independent Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman.

The within proposed bill is precisely intended to bestow adequate reward and
recognition for long and continuous service in the legislative branch of government. At
the same time, it aims to guarantee and secure the future welfare and well being of
retired Members of Congress.

Accordingly, prompt approval hereof is earnestly recommended.

Second District, Leyte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

16" Congress
First Regular Session

1273

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Sergio A. F. Apostol

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE RETIREMENT WITH BENEFITS OF
MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES UPON
COMPLETION OF THEIR FULL TERM OF OFFICE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
accord due recognition to the long and continuous services rendered by Members of the
Congress of the Philippines after having completed their full term of office consecutively
under the Constitution by granting them the same retirement benefits presently enjoyed
by retired Members of the Judiciary, Members of the independent Constitutional
Commissions, and the Ombudsman.

SECTION 2. Retirement Upon Completion of Full Term. \n case a Member of
Congress shall have served successively and completed his full term of office under the
Constitution — two (2) consecutive terms of six (6) years each, or a total of twelve (12)
successive years in the case of Senators, and three (3) consecutive terms of three (3)
years each, or a total of nine (9) successive years in the case of Representatives — he
shall for that reason be considered or deemed retired from the service and entitled to
retirement benefits as authorized hereunder.

SECTION 3. Grant of Retirement Benefits. Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, a Member of Congress, upon retirement from the service as herein
contemplated, shall be automatically entitled to a lump sum of five (5) years gratuity
computed on the basis of the highest basic monthly salary plus the highest monthly
aggregate of duly authorized commutable allowances that he was receiving on the date
of his retirement.

Thereafter, upon survival after the expiration of the initial five (5) year period of
retirement and commencing the sixth (6") year of said period from date of retirement,


he shall receive an annuity payable monthly during the residue of his natural life
equivalent to the full amount of the gratuity that he received upon retirement.

SECTION 4, In case the salary of Members of Congress is increased or
decreased, such increased or decreased salary shall, for the purpose of this Act, be
deemed to be the salary or the retirement pension which shall be received by the retired
Members of Congress.

SECTION 5. Funding. Funds for the initial implementation of this Act shall be
taken out of the current appropriations of the Congress and/or savings therein.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation hereof
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Issuance of Implementing Guidelines. The Senate President and
the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress shall jointly issue the
necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days
from the approval hereof.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the provisions thereof as are not affected by such declaration shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,