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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _1483

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Fairly recently, Professor Clarita Carlos of the University of the
Philippines (U.P.) did a scholarly study on ageing population, which is
now a worldwide phenomenon for all countries in the world except those
in Africa. She observed that the aging of populations, including that of
the Philippines, is unprecedented. A combination of decreasing fertility
rates and the increasing life expectancy have produced an aging
population. People are living longer because of advances in medicine,
better nutrition, better health care, better education and over-all well-
being of society.

As a result also of better health care and education, studies have
shown that many of our senior citizens are still very much productive.
Were it not for our compulsory or mandatory retirement laws, these
“elderly” but still productive citizens would still be part of the labor
force. What happens then when senior citizens begin to form a sizable
chunk of our population, as a consequence of the “ageing” population
phenomenon? The Philippine economy then would have to be shouldered
or supported by the thinning ranks of the youth, and this might not be
good for our society. Note that in the Philippines, the statistics show that
the rate of increase of elderly population is faster than the growth of the
population itself, hence, the scenario contemplated here could very well
materialize in the near future.

This bill seeks to remedy this foreseeable problem. By allowing the
extension of services of retireable officials and employees in the
government under exceptional circumstances, Philippine society could
still tap the services of the elderly but still productive citizens. Besides, it
also makes sense inasmuch as if our laws allow for “early” retirement,
then there ought to be an option also for “late” or “delayed” retirement. If


it is argued that permitting late retirement would deprive our elderlies the
opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labor or the “sunset years” of their
lives, so to speak, it could equally be argued that in many instances,
retirement has not been beneficial to or ideally worked for certain people.
Without much more to do and abandoning their personal discipline as
before, retired individuals tend to slacken in their habits and begin to
acquire ailments. No longer “busy” or focused on their erstwhile work
assignments, they start becoming more conscious of their advanced years
and inexorably tend to weaken mentally and physically. The bottomline,
however, is it might be better to give people the choice of retiring early,
on time or late. In any case, this bill adopts a balanced approach by
allowing the extension of services only up to a maximum of five (5)
years.

In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early enactment of
this measure into law is earnestly recommended.

‘one District, Calamba City


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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1483

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

AN ACT
ALLOWING THE EXTENSION OF SERVICES OF RETIREABLE
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE GOVERNMENT
SERVICE UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

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

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rules or
regulations to the contrary, the services of any retireable official or
employee in the government service may be extended, by not more than

five (5) years, upon the concurrence of the following circumstances:

(a)The concemed official or employee has expressed such an
option in writing to his office, agency or instrumentality;

(b)The head of the unit, agency or instrumentality where the
official or employee belongs has certified that the latter
possesses certain skills or competencies that are necessary or
desirable to the performance of the mandate of the said office;
and

(c) A duly accredited government physician has issued a medical

certification that the subject official or employee is still fit for
work,


SEC. 2. Nothing in this Act shall deprive the official or employee
whose services has been extended of benefits to which he may be entitled

under existing law.

SEC. 3. Alll laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of

this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,