NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2249
of tii? iS' '.':et(itp
23 MAY 25 A 9:46
RlTciV
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING AN OPTION TO QUALIFIED NON-CAREER SERVICE 
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, AND TO ENABLE THEM TO 
COMPLETE THE MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF 
AVAILING RETIREMENT AND OTHER APPLICABLE BENEFITS UNDER 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE GOVERNMENT 
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997", AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTIONS 13 AND 13-A OF THE SAME LAW
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is the social security program 
for government workers, except members of the Judiciary and Constitutional 
Commissions which are covered by separate retirement laws, contractual employees 
who have no employee-employer relationship with their agencies, and the Military 
and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the 
Philippine National Police.
GSIS members are entitled to social security benefits such as life insurance 
and retirement packages, which are particularly useful for senior members after 
many dedicated years of public service.
However, many employees from the public sector are excluded from such 
benefits as they do not complete the minimum number of fifteen years of service. 
Elected officials from the local government units and their staff can only stay In 
office for three consecutive terms or a total of nine years. Also, government 
personnel who serve under members of the national legislature may not complete


the required number of years as senators are elected to a six-year term and can 
serve for not more than two consecutive terms or 12 years. The same is true for the 
staff complement of the President and the Vice President who have a term of six 
years with no provision for reelection. Unless they get re-elected or hired in other 
government posts, many employees will be unable to receive pension coverage as 
they fall short of the needed years of public service.
Data from Civil Service Commission (CSC) show that as of June 2022, there 
are a total of 1.82 million positions in government - 165,882 of which are non-career 
positions. Unfortunately, there are no provisions in Republic Act No. 8291 or the 
GSIS Act of 1997 which cater to non-career officials. Non-career officials are entitled 
to separation pay only, without any privilege to make voluntary contributions to the 
GSIS pension program.
This proposed measure provides an option to qualified non-career service 
government employees to make voluntary contributions to the GSIS Fund, and to 
enable them to complete the minimum years of contribution for purposes of availing 
retirement and other applicable benefits. This bill aims to honor the unwavering 
dedication and exemplary service of non-career personnel by ensuring that they may 
also enjoy social protection and adequate pension benefits once they retire.
The immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.
L
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 2249
23 MAY 25 A9 :46
Ri'ClflV’:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING AN OPTION TO QUALIFIED NON-CAREER SERVICE 
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, AND TO ENABLE THEM TO 
COMPLETE THE MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF 
AVAILING RETIREMENT AND OTHER APPLICABLE BENEFITS UNDER 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE GOVERNMENT 
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997", AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTIONS 13 AND 13-A OF THE SAME LAW
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem bled:
1 
Section 1. Section 13 (b) of Republic Act No. 8291 is hereby amended to read
2 
as foliows:
3 
"SEC. 13. Retirement Benefits. -
4 
XXX
5 
"(b) Uniess the service is extended by appropriate authorities,
6 
retirement shali be compuisory for an empioyee of sixty-five (65) years
7 
of age with at least fifteen (15) years of service: Provided, That an
8 
employee has less than fifteen (15) years of service, the employee may
9 
be allowed to continue in the service in accordance with existing civil
10 
service rules and regulations; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT NON-
11 
CAREER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE
12 
MINIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE, AS
13 
DEFINED IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING


1 
THIS ACT, SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE THEIR
2 
MEMBERSHIP IN THE GSIS AND TO PAY VOLUNTARY
3 
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLETING THE
4 
MINIMUM FIFTEEN (15) YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR
5 
ENTITLEMENT OF THE BENEFITS UNDER THIS ACT."
6 
Sec. 2. Section 13-A of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
7 
"SEC. 13-A. Conditions for Entitiement. - A member who retires
8 
from the service shall be entitled to the retirement benefits enumerated
9 
In paragraph (a) of Section 13 hereof: Provided, that:
10 
"(1) [f^e] THE MEMBER has rendered at least fifteen (15) years
11 
of service, OR, IN THE CASE OF A NON-CAREER GOVERNMENT
12 
EMPLOYEE, HAS SERVED THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS IN
13 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE AS DEFINED IN THE RULES AND
14 
REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THIS ACT, IS QUALIFIED TO
15 
AVAIL OF THE OPTION TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS
16 
TO GSIS, AND MUST HAVE COMPLETED FIFTEEN (15) YEARS OF
17 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GSIS;
18 
"(2) [he] THE MEMBER is at least sixty (60) years of age at the
19 
time of retirement; and
20 
"(3) [he] THE MEMBER is not receiving a monthly pension
21 
benefit from permanent total disability."
22 
Sec. 3. Non-Diminution of Retirement and Separation Benefit - Nothing
23 
herein contained shall diminish the retirement and separation benefits already
24 
enjoyed under the laws that existed at the time of retirement.
25 
Sec. 4. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within sixty (60) days after
26 
the effectivity of this Act, the GSIS shall promulgate the rules and regulations to
27 
implement this Act.
28 
Sec. 5. Separabiiity Cause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
29 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in
30 
full force and effect.


1 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
2 
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act
3 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
4 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general
6 
circulation.
Approved,