Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4450

Introduced by Hon. Samuel D. Pagdilao

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The President is the leader of our country. He is a visible national symbol and
a chief representative of our country in the family of nations. As President, he
assumes many roles and functions. He is the Chief Executive of the State in charge
of running the government and making sure that all laws are enforced accordingly
Further, the President is also the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces. Thus, the
President is primarily responsible for the maintenance of peace and order, internal
security and national defense, Finally, the President is also responsible for
recommending and certifying to Congress priority bills for it to pass and unless the
President signs a bill it cannot become a law.

With the services rendered by the President, it is but proper that the State
duly recognizes his great contribution to Nation building and in promoting the welfare
of the people. Unfortunately, when a President retires from office, he or she receives
no other assistance from the government aside from his or her GSIS benefits.

This bill seeks to provide former Presidents lifetime pensions and office
allowances, including security and protection. This bill would also provide lifetime
pension to a widow/widower of a former President.

The purpose of this bill is to provide recognition and gratitude to a former
President for his services to our country, which in all cases, do not end with his or
her term of office, as he/she will continue his/her role as a moral voice of our Nation
and also to enable a former President to enjoy a dignified retirement without having
to engage in any occupation that might demean or commercialize the office he once
held

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

a

SAI aol excons to}


Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL'NO.

Introduced by Honorable Samuel D. Pagdilao

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND
SECURITY PROTECTION FOR RETIRED PRESIDENTS

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

Section 1. Title, - This Act shall be known as “Retired
Presidents Protection Act of 2014.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the
policy of the State to provide recognition and gratitude to a retired
President's service to our Nation, which in all cases, does not end
with his/her term of office, as he/she will continue to be a
representative of our State. Towards this end, the State shall
provide retired President's lifetime pensions and other benefits
which suits for his or her stature as a former leader of the State.

Section 3. Definition of Terms — For purposes of this Act, the
following terms are defined as follows:

(a) Retired President - refers to (i) any person who has
served and held the full term of Office of the President
of the Republic of the Philippines and has ceased to
hold such Office upon expiration of such term; or (ii)
any person who has succeeded as President and has
served as such more than four years; or (iii) any person
who resign as President before his or her official term


(b)

of office expire except those who resigned or has been
removed from office due to impeachment.

Dependents - refers to the surviving spouse of a
retired President including their minor children.

Section 4, Transition Benefits -The Office of the President is
authorized to provide, upon request, to each retired President, for
a period not to exceed six months from the date of the expiration
of his term of office as President, for use in connection with
winding up the affairs of his/her office, necessary services and
facilities, including but not limited to the following:

1

Suitable office space appropriately equipped with
furniture, furnishings, office machines and equipment,
and office supplies as determined by the Office of the
President, after consultation with the retired President;

Payment of the compensation of members of office
staffs designated by the retired President. Provided,
That any employee of any agency of any branch of the
Government may be detailed to such staffs on a
reimbursable or non reimbursable basis with the
consent of the head of the agency; and while so
detailed such employee shall be responsible only to the
retired President. Provided further, That any employee
so detailed shall continue to receive the compensation
provided pursuant to law for his regular employment,
and shall retain the rights and privileges of such
employment without interruption.

Payment of expenses for the procurement of services of
experts or consultants or organizations thereof for the
retired President, at rates not to exceed those as set by
the Office of the President.


4. Payment of travel expenses and _ subsistence
allowances, including rental of Government or hired
motor vehicles, found necessary by the retired
President provided that such travel shall relate to the
duties of a retired President as a representative of the
State;

5. Communications services found necessary by the
retired President;

6. Other such benefits and expenses as may be reasonably
necessary for the transition of duties of the retired
President,

In all cases, the Office of the President shall spend no funds
for the provision of services and facilities under this Act in
connection with any obligations incurred by the retired President
before the day following the date of the general elections held to
determine the electors of the President, or after the inauguration of
the President-elect as President.

Section 5. Retirement Benefits ~Each retired President shall be
entitled for the remainder of his life to receive from the National
Treasury an annual pension, payable monthly by the Office of the
President, at a rate equal to the basic salary he/she was receiving at
the time of his/her retirement or resignation. However, such
pension or allowance shall not be paid for any period during
which such retired President holds an appointive or elective office
or position in or under the Government.

Provided, that the surviving spouse of a retired President
shall be entitled to receive from the National Treasury a monetary
allowance at a rate of equal to what is provided for a retired
President when he or she is still alive, payable monthly by the
Office of the President, provided further that the surviving spouse


cannot avail of this monetary allowance unless he or she shall
waive the right to any other annuity or pension to which he or she
is entitled under any other laws. The monetary allowance of such
surviving spouse ~

1. Commences on the day after the retired President dies;
and

2. Terminates on the last day of the month before such
surviving spouse—

(a) Dies; or

(b)  Remarries; or

(c) Holds an appointive or elective office or position
in or under the Government.

Section 6. Security Protection — Reasonable but adequate
security by the Presidential Security Group, as authorized under
this Act, shall be provided for a retired President and his/her
surviving spouse during their lifetime except when such surviving
spouse remarries. Provided, that the same security protection
shall also be accorded to the children of a retired President until
they reach 18 years of age.

Section 7. Rules and Regulations. - The Office of the
President, in consultation with the Department of Budget and
Management, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof
is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the
provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting.


Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.