NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
seni<V!>
of t'ic £■■ t-'i fiary
24 MAY-2 All :15
SENATE2649
S.B. No.
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
PROVIDING AN OPTION TO ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICALS TO 
PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE 
INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), TO ENABLE THEM TO COMPLETE THE 
MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF AVAILING 
RETIREMENT AND OTHER APPLICABLE BENEFITS, THEREBY AMENDING 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE GOVERNMENT 
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 8 Article XVI of the 1987 Constitution states that " The State shall, 
from time to time, review to upgrade the pensions and other benefits due to retirees 
of both the government and the private sectors."
The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is the social security 
program for government workers. It provides pension benefits for all government 
workers except those covered by separate retirement laws, such as the members of 
the Judiciary, Constitutional Commissions, and the Military and Uniformed Personnel 
(MUP) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. 
Elected officials from local government units can only stay in office for three 
consecutive terms or a total of nine years, while elected officials from the national 
legislature are elected to a six-year term and can serve for not more than two 
consecutive terms or twelve years. As such, many elected officials are unable to 
receive pension coverage as they do not complete the minimum number of fifteen 
years of service.


This measure provides an option to elected officials to make voluntary 
contributions to the GSIS Fund, allowing them to complete the minimum years of 
contribution for purposes of availing retirement and other applicable benefits.
The immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.
mtER. MARCOS f


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.B. No. 2649
''Vrl v-'lBffir!" of lllf •r?tP'
24 may -2 All :l
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
PROVIDING AN OPTION TO ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICALS TO 
PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE 
INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), TO ENABLE THEM TO COMPLETE THE 
MINIMUM YEARS OF CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF AVAILING 
RETIREMENT AND OTHER APPLICABLE BENEFITS, THEREBY AMENDING 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE GOVERNMENT 
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997"
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1 
SECTION 1. Section 13 (b) of Republic Act No. 8291 otherwise known as "The
2 
Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997" is hereby amended to read as
3 
follows:
4 
"SEC. 13. Retirement Benefits. - XXX
5 
"(b) Unless the service is extended by appropriate authorities, retirement shall
6 
be compulsory for an employee of sixty-five (65) years of age with at least fifteen
7 
(15) years of service: Provided, That an employee has less than fifteen (15) years of
8 
service, the employee may be allowed to continue in the service in accordance with
9 
existing civil service rules and regulations; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT
10 
ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SERVED FOR AT LEAST
11 
NINE (9) YEARS, SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO CONTINUE THEIR
12 
MEMBERSHIP IN THE GSIS AND TO PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS
13 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLETING THE MINIMUM YEARS OF
14 
CONTRIBUTION FOR ENTITLEMENT OF THE BENEFITS UNDER THIS ACT."


1 
Sec. 2. Section 13-A of Republic Act No. 8291 otherwise known as "The
2 
Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997" is hereby amended to read as
3 
follows:
4 
"SEC. 13-A. Conditions for Entitlement. - A member who retires from the
5 
service shall be entitled to the retirement benefits enumerated in paragraph (a) of
6 
Section 13 hereof: Provided, that:
7 
"(1) [he] THE MEMBER has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service,
8 
OR IN THE CASE OF AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO HAS
9 
SERVED FOR AT LEAST NINE (9) YEARS AND AVAILED OF THE OPTION TO
10 
PAY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS, AS PROVIDED IN SEC. 13 (B);
11 
"(2) [he] THE MEMBER is at least sixty (60) years of age at the time of
12 
retirement; and
13 
"(3) [he] THE MEMBER is not receiving a monthly pension benefit from
14 
permanent total disability."
15 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
16 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
17 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
18 
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
19 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
20 
remain in force and effect.
21 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
22 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
23 
general circulation in the Philippines.
24
25 
Approved,