FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO and Senator RICHARD J. 
GORDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This Bill seeks to upgrade the retirement benefits now found in various 
retirement laws for Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the 
Ombudsman, by adding survivorship benefits for the surviving legitimate 
spouse of the said retirees equivalent to the monthly pension of the deceased 
retiree's lifetime pension. 
Survivorship pension originally was an integral part of the retirement 
system for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But this feature has been 
included in the revised general retirement system for civilian personnel 
administered by the GSIS by P.D. 1146 since 1977 or more than 18 years ago. 
The enactment of this bill into law would be in consonance with the 1987 
Constitution provision on the upgrading of retirement benefits (Art. XVI, Section 
8). It is also in keeping with the public purpose or rationale of the legislative 
grant of old age retirement pensions to qualified civil servants: To entice capable 
men/women of proven probity, integrity and independence to enter and remain 
in the government service, especially in highly sensitive offices, discharging their 
duties faithfully and efficiently. Liberal retirement benefits would assure them of 
retirement with relative security after rendering almost a lifetime of public 
service, when they have lost their vigor or are already old or incapacitated by 
illness or other disability. 
Accordingly, the immediate approval of this bill is urged. 
4 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
8 y#IA -3 P.' '5t 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S . N o . B O 0  
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO and Senator RICHARD J. 
GORDON 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF SURVIVORSHIP BENEFITS TO THE 
SURVIVING LEGITIMATE SPOUSES OF A DECEASED RETIRED MEMBER OF 
THE 
COMMISSION 
ON 
AUDIT, 
CIVIL 
SERVICE 
COMMISSION, 
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, AND THE OMBUDSMAN AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES. 
SECTION 1. In case of the death of a retired Chairman or Commissioner 
of the Commission on Audit, the Commission on Elections, the Civil Service 
Commission, and the Ombudsman, the surviving legitimate spouse of said 
deceased retiree shall be entitled to receive on a monthly basis all the retirement 
benefits that the said deceased retiree was receiving at the time of his/her demise 
under the provisions of applicable retirement laws then in force. The said 
surviving legitimate spouse shall continue to receive such retirement benefits 
during his/her lifetime or until he/she remarries. 
SECTION 2. Funds for the initial implementation of this Act shall be taken 
out of the current appropriations for the retirement benefits of the Chairman and 
Commissioners of the Constitutional Commissions as well as the Ombudsman 
and / or savings of said Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation 
hereof shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect after thirty (30) days following the 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved,