HOUSE OF REPRESENTATY
Quezon City

First Regular Session
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

House Bill No. __ 242

Introduced by Rep. Maria Carmen S, Zamora

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposal seeks to amend sections 13(b) and 13-A of Republic Act No. 8291,
otherwise known as the Government Service insurance System Act of 1997, by lowering
the mandatory retirement age for government employees except those in the military and
police services.

If favorably considered by the legislature and approved by the executive branch,
the new enactment will correct the slow manpower tumn-over in government because only
1a few avail of early retirement. Most government employees opt to retire at the age of
sixty-five (65) thereby creating a stand-off in terms of position movement and the
accommodation of new entrants. This scenario affects government's productivity since
studies show that people reaching the age of fifty (50) tend to suffer from a decline of
cognitive and physical abilities. Likewise, the inability of the older set of public servants
to adapt to the infusion of modem technology and methods also impacts negatively on
output and efficiency.

The reduction of the age of retirement is the only viable solution to increasing
productivity and decreasing unemployment by allowing new entrants to civil service
positions. More retirees would mean more job openings for the unemployed. Lowering
the compulsory retirement age would also allow retirees to thoroughly enjoy the benefits
and assistance extended to them, while giving the GSIS the ability to fully prepare and
manage the increase in the transaction volume of retirement applications and their
processing.

The passage of this bill is urgently requested.

MARIA CA] S. ZAMORA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezoa City

First Regular Session
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

House Bill No. 242

Introduced by Rep. Maria Carmen S. Zamora

AN ACT
LOWERING THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 13(b) AND 13-A OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 13, subparagraph (b) and Section 13-A, subparapraph 2 of R.A.
8291, otherwise known as the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

SECTION 13. Retirement Benefits.
(@) xx

D xx
2) xx

(8) Unless the service is extended by appropriate authorities, retirement shall be
compulsory for an employee at sixty (60) years of age with at least fifieen
(15) years of service: Provided, That, if he has less than fifteen (15) years of
service, he may be allowed tc continue in the service in accordance with
existing civil service rules and regulations.

SECTION 13-A. Conditions for Entitlement—A member who retires from the service
shall be entitled to the retirement benefits enumerated in paragraph (a) of Section 13
hereof: Provided, That:

1) He has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service;
2) He is at least fifty-five(53) years of age at the time of retirement; and
3) ox
SEC. 2. The provision under Section 13, subparagraph (b) and Section 13-A,
subparagraph (2) of R.A, 8291, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in at
east two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,