Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Foreign service personnel of our country play a crucial role in our diplomatic and 
consular relations on foreign soil. They are on the frontline in effectively transcending 
and articulating our nation’s political, economic, and social interests with their foreign 
counterparts, especially in protecting our Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). This is 
despite the complex challenges innate to their functions and duties including cultural 
and political differences. 
In recognition of their invaluable contribution to our country, the Foreign Service Act of 
1991 was enacted on top of previously approved legislation. Section 62 specifically 
states that "the President upon recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs 
may, as soon as practicable, submit for enactment by Congress of a foreign affairs 
retirement and disability system, taking into account the difficulties of foreign service 
personnel in setting aside sufficient savings to take care their eventual retirement in 
the Philippines due to old age or some other disability, with the increased burden of 
establishing a home in the Philippines after completion of their tour of duty abroad." 
However, over 30 years of the law’s implementation, there is still no enabling legislative 
measure to implement the foreign affairs retirement and disability system as stipulated 
in Section 62. This means that for the past decades, retirees and persons with 
disabilities from the foreign service were unserved with a social protection mechanism 
due to them.  
This bill intends to provide present and future retirees of the foreign service support 
disability and death benefits as well as adjustment of monthly pension. The funding 
source of said benefits shall be sourced from the member-government contribution of 
the DFA.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
September 28, 2023
1:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT PROGRAM UNDER THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), IMPLEMENTING 
SECTION 62 OF REPUBLIC ACT 7157 ALSO KNOWN AS THE "FOREIGN 
SERVICE ACT OF 1991" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – Article XVI, Section 8 of the 1987 Philippine 
Constitution states that "the State shall from time-to-time review to upgrade the 
pensions and benefits due to retirees of both government and private sectors." It is the 
policy of the State to provide adequate and reasonable retirement programs to the 
members of the Philippine Foreign Service and to implement section 62 of Republic 
Act No. 7151 also known as the Foreign Service Act of 1971. This law remained 
unimplemented for forty (40) years and states among others that "the President upon 
recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may, as soon as practicable, 
submit for enactment by Congress of a foreign affairs retirement and disability system, 
taking into account the difficulties of foreign service personnel in setting aside sufficient 
savings to take care their eventual retirement in the Philippines due to old age or some 
other disability, with the increased burden of establishing a home in the Philippines 
after completion of their tour of duty abroad." 
SECTION 2. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all officers and personnel of the 
Foreign Service who retired prior to the enactment of this Act and will retire after the 
effectivity of this Act, provided the following conditions are met: 
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(A) Service in the Department or in other agencies of the government for at least    
fifteen (15) years; and 
(B) Members of and are eligible to receive a monthly pension from the 
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). 
 
SECTION 3. Automatic Adjustment of Monthly Pension. – The monthly pension of 
all members of the Foreign Service covered under this Act shall be automatically 
adjusted at the same rate as any future or subsequent increase in the salary grade of 
the same rank he or she retired from. 
 
SECTION 4. Additional Entitlements. – All officers and employees by this Act shall 
be eligible for disability and death benefits as provided under RA 8291 and other 
relevant laws. 
 
SECTION 5. Funding. – Funding for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced 
from the member-government contribution of the DFA, in accordance with RA 8291. 
 
Differential funding for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced from any 
available savings of the DFA, and from a percentage of the annual consular income of 
the DFA as included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
To ensure that the cost of this Retirement Program is adequately met, DFA and GSIS 
shall meet on a yearly basis to discuss the yearly funding requirement. Such funds 
necessary to meet the yearly funding requirement which are beyond the GSIS 
mandated contribution, shall be for the account of the DFA. The DFA shall remit to the 
GSIS as much funds as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Program. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred eighty 
(180) days after the effectivity of this Act, the GSIS and the DFA shall jointly draft and 
issue the rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.  
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 


 
 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.  
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified 
or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,