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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 6145

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Fairly recently, Professor Clarita Carlos of the University of the Philippines
(UP.) 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.

aos
J M. cimeed ah
sentative
‘econd District of Laguna


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

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 6145

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 concerned 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. All 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,