SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) a

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) x f
Third Regular Session )
18 JUL 16 M053
SENATE
S.B. No. _1872

Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA

AN ACT
LOWERING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD TO FIFTY-FIVE (55) YEARS OLD,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13-A OF REPUBLIC ACT 8291,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE
SYSTEM ACT OF 1997"

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Many public school teachers have expressed their desire to retire from their
noble profession at an age earlier than what is currently set by the law, where
mandatory retirement is at 65 years old.

The Philippines ranks among the countries with the most dismal statistics
descriptive of teachers’ working conditions. According to 2015 UNESCO data, Filipino
teachers have to contend with less than optimal pupil-teacher ratios—an average of
31 students (primary level) to 45 students (secondary level)—and large average
class sizes—42.4 (primary) and 43.7 (secondary).

Officially, instruction time is six hours each day, but some teachers work
much longer hours on account of their multiple responsibilities at school. Teachers
work in 40 out of 54 weeks per year, but they have duties during vacation months,
and even beyond the classroom and the school premises.



When compared to figures worldwide, it is harder to be a public school
teacher in the Philippines than in most countries. And yet, our teachers retire five
years later than those in most countries, where mandatory retirement age is
generally 60 years old.

The country does face a perennial shortage of teachers, but respect and
humane consideration for our hardworking educators should prompt policymakers
and legislators to at least lower the optional retirement age from today’s 60 years
old to 55 years old as this proposed measure stipulates.

The work of our teachers should be highly valued in our society. And one
way of demonstrating our gratitude is by the swift passage and approval of this

measure.



13
4

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) ost

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session ) "8 16 M053
SENATE be
S.B.No. 1872 i

Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA

AN ACT
LOWERING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD TO FIFTY-FIVE (55) YEARS OLD,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13-A OF REPUBLIC ACT 8291,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE
SYSTEM ACT OF 1997"

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

Section 1. Section 13-A of Republic Act No. 8291, or the Revised Government
Service Insurance System Act of 1997, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 13-A. Conditions for Entitlement. - A member who retires
from the service shall be entitled to the retirement benefits in
paragraph (a) of Section 13 hereof: Provided, That:
"(1) he OR SHE has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service;
"(2) he OR SHE is at least sixty (60) years of age at the time of
retirement, OR AT LEAST FIFTY-FIVE (55) YEARS OF AGE IN
THE CASE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS; and
"(3) he OR SHE is not receiving a monthly pension benefit from
permanent total disability.”
Sec. 2. The provisions in pertinent implementing rules and regulations and
other issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.


1 Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
2. at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,