FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2059 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Fonner Senate President Senator Neptali A. Gonzales once said: 
"Congress, particularly the Senate, has become a great and strong 
institution of representative democracy. Because of the broad national 
mandate granted by the Constitution to Congress, if becomes the task of 
the Secretariat of both Houses to give their unqualified and professional 
support to senators and congressmen." 
This bill seeks to create and maintain a pool of strong, dedicated and competent 
public servants in the field of legislation to ensure that our elected Senators and 
congressmen are provided the much-needed administrative and technical support to carry 
out their roles in a representative democracy. 
The establishment of a Legislative Career Service would allow the admission and 
training of competent and qualified civil servants in Congress. There is no doubt that the 
functions of Congress have gone beyond that of plenary work. Committee hearings and 
legislative inquires have to be conducted on various socio-economic and political issues 
that confront our nation. Legislative research, bill drafting and administrative management 
have to be undertaken to complement the lawmaking duties of our legislators. The role of 
the Secretariat as a support system in the Congress, therefore, becomes unique ad 
specialized. Thus, the qualification standards of legislative personnel are specific and must 
confonn not only to the Civil Service rules but also to parliamentary rules, precedents, 
practices, and traditions. 
This proposed measure likewise seeks the creation of a Legislative Career Service 
Board to ensure the recruitment and training of a service-wide pool of properly selected 
and development-oriented legislative corps and devises a retirement scheme for all officers 
and emp loyees in the Legislative Career Service. 
1 


Now is the time to acknowledge, through this bill, the men and women behind the 
work of the senators and representatives of the people if only for heir untiring support and 
dedication to this great political institution. I therefore seek the support of this Body for the 
approval of this measure. 
}:y//Av 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
2 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
H) Jill 26 r I) :17 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2059 
Introduced by Senator EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING AND RATIONALIZING THE CAREER SERVICE 
OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES BY ESTABLISHING A 
LEGISLATIVE CAREER SERVICE, PROVIDING BENEFITS FOR ITS 
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in the 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Legislative Career Service. - There shall be established a Legislative 
2 
Career Service for Congress composed of the following: 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
l3 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
(a) The Legislative Career Service Officers (LCSO) -to include the positions of the 
Deputy Secretary of the Senate, Deputy Secretary General of the House of 
Representatives, Deputy Secretary of the Commission on Appointments, and 
their equivalents, Executive Director, Bureau Director, Assistant Bureau 
Director, Service Chief, down to Director I Level, and equivalent levels which 
involve professional and technical work in a supervisory capacity; 
(b) The Legislative Career Service Employees (LCSE) - to include Legislative Staff 
Officer positions which involve professional and technical work in a non-
supervisory capacity; 
(c) The Legislative Sub-career Service (LSeS) - to include Legislative Staff 
Assistant Employee positions which involve clerical, trades, crafts and 
custodial services in a non-supervisory capacity. 
1 


1 
SEC. 2. Coverage. - The Legislative Career Service (LCS) shall include the 
2 
officers and employees of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Commission 
3 
on Appointments. 
4 
5 
SEC. 3. Objective. - It is the purpose of this measure to professionalize, upgrade 
6 
and strengthen the work force of the Legislative Department to ensure that Congress and 
7 
its Members shall be provided with qualified, efficient and effective legislative, 
8 
administrative and security support services. Towards this end, a continuing pool of 
9 
competent and development oriented legislative career service officers and employees shall 
lObe established and maintained. 
11 
12 
SEC. 4. Legislative Career Service Board. - There shall be a Legislative Career 
13 
Service Board hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of the Secretary of the 
14 
Senate and the Secretary General of the House, as Co-Chairmen; one (1) Career Official to 
15 
be designated by the President of the Senate, one (1) Career Official to be designated by 
16 
the Speaker of the House, and the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. The two (2) 
17 
Career Officials for both Houses shall serve for a term of three (3) years. 
18 
19 
SEC. 5. Functions of the Board. - The Board shall: 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
(a) Determine and evaluate the qualification ofthe applicants for LCSO positions; 
(b) Prepare the examination questions for LCSO positions and conduct the 
examination, correct and rate examination papers in coordination with the Civil 
Service Commission and submit the results to the President of the Senate and 
Speaker of the House; 
( c) Conduct an annual review of the qualifications of LCSO and recommend 
deserving officers for appointment to the rank of LCSO; 
(d) Establish and conduct a performance evaluation system for LCSOs; 
(e) Keep a roster of those who have passed the LCSO examinations; and 
(f) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the President of the Senate 
or the Speaker of the House pursuant to its mandate. 
33 
SEC. 6. Legislative Career Service Officers (LCSO) Eligibility. - LCSO eligibility 
34 
shall be conferred by the Board to any person who meets such managerial and legislative 
2 


1 
expenence and competence, leadership qualities and other relevant qualifications, and 
2 
passes the examination prescribed by the Board. 
3 
The examination shall consist of two stages: (a) Legislative/management aptitude 
4 
test; and (b) Assessment of managerial capability and competence. Those who pass the 
5 
managerial assessment will be subject to a validation process involving their superiors in 
6 
order to ascertain their on-the-job performance . 
• 
7 
Successful completion of the managerial assessment and favorable results of the 
8 
validation process and a final interview by the Board shall qualify the candidate for .the 
9 
grant of LCSO eligibility. 
10 
Any incumbent officer or employee who is a Career Executive Service (CES) 
II 
eligible prior to the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be confelTed LCSO 
12 
eligibility. 
13 
14 
SEC. 7. Qualification Requirements. - An applicant for LCSO eligibility must 
15 
possess the following qualifications: 
16 
(a) A Bachelor's degree; 
17 
(b) Not be over fifty-five (55) years of age; 
18 
(c) Must be a citizen of the Philippines; and 
19 
(d) Must not have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a 
20 
( e) crime involving moral aptitude. 
21 
22 
SEC. 8. Appointments. - Appointments to appropriate positions in the Legislative 
23 
Career Service shall be made by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
24 
Representatives or the Chainnan of the Commission on Appointments, as the case may be. 
25 
No person shall be eligible for appointment to any position in the Legislative
c 
26 
Career Service unless he/she meets the qualification standards approved by the Legisl'\tive 
27 
Career Service Board (LCSB) which shall at least be at par with the standards set by the 
28 
Civil Service Commission. 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
SEC. 9. Incumbents. - Upon approval of this Act, an incumbent, or an employee 
officially discharging the duties, of a regular career position herein classified as an LCSO 
position shall be accorded LCSO eligibility and shall enjoy security of tenure. 
• 
SEC. 10. Retirement Benefits. - Retirement shall be compulsory for an officer or 
employee in the Legislative Career Service upon reaching the age of sixty-five (65) years: 
3 


1 
Provided, That he/she has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service in the government, 
2 
three (3) years of which have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department. If 
3 
he/she has rendered less than fifteen (15) years of service, he/she shall be allowed to 
4 
continue in Service up to a maximum of one (1) year, subject to Civil Service rules and 
5 
regulations. 
6 
Upon compulsory retirement, an officer or employee shall be entitled to a monthly 
7 
pension for the duration of his/her natural life equivalent to the salary of the incumbent of 
8 
the position he was retired from and a lump sum gratuity of five (5) years or sixty (60) 
9 
months multiplied by two (2) months salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of 
10 
transportation, living and representation allowances received at the time of retirement. 
11 
An officer or employee who has reached the age of sixty (60) years with at'least 
12 
Fifteen (15) years of service in government, the last three (3) years of which have been 
13 
continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, may opt to retire under the 
14 
compulsory retirement plan: Provided, That he/she shall be entitled to a monthly pension 
15 
only upon the lapse of five (5) years from retirement. 
16 
Likewise an incumbent who has availed of any prior optional retirement plan and 
17 
has an accumulated thirty (30) years of service in government, three (3) years of which 
18 
have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, shall be given full credit 
19 
for services rendered by him/her prior to his/her reinstatement and shall receive the full 
20 
benefits granted under this Act if he/she retires under the compulsory retirement plan: 
21 
Provided, That he/she refunds all pensions and retirement benefits previously received. 
22 
All pension benefits of retired officers and employees of the Legislative 
23 
Department shall be automatically increased whenever there is an increase in the salary of 
24 
the same position from which he/she retired. 
25 
Except for the retirement benefits granted herein, officials and employees of the· 
26 
Legislative Career Service shall remain covered by the compulsory life insurance program 
27 
of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and shall therefore be entitled to and 
28 
may avail of GSlS benefits: Provided, That the corresponding personal and employer share 
29 
for the life insurance coverage is paid and remitted. 
30 
31 
SEC. 11. Survivovship Benefits. - Upon the death of an officer or employee who 
32 
has been retired, his/ her surviving spouse and surviving legitimate minor children shall 
33 
receive in equal shares seventy percent (70%) of the monthly retirement pay which he/she 
34 
has been receiving at the time of his/her death Provided, That no payment under this 
35 
Section shall be made to the surviving spouse who remarries. 
4 


1 
2 
SEC. 12. Optional Retirement. - An officer or employee, who has rendered an 
• 
3 
accumulated twenty (20) years of government service, the last three (3) years of which 
4 
have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, may choose to retire from 
5 
the service under the optional retirement plan subject to the approval of the President of the 
6 
Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case maybe. 
7 
Incumbents who have rendered at least ten (10) years of continuous service in 
8 
Congress at the time of the adoption of this Act may likewise avail of the optional 
9 
retirement. He/she shall be entitled to receive a lump sum gratuity equivalent to two (2) 
10 
months salary for every year of service plus highest monthly aggregate of transportation, 
II 
living and representation allowances as of the date of his/her retirement. 
12 
A retiree under this Section shall not be eligible for appointment to or employment 
13 
III Congress whether on a permanent, temporary, casual or emergency status within a 
14 
period of three (3) years after retirement. An officer or employee who has been separated 
15 
from the service shall be given full credit for services rendered by him prior to his 
16 
reinstatement [or purposes of determining his/ her retirement or separation benefits under 
17 
this Ad: Provided, That he/she refunds all pensions and retirement benefits previously 
18 
received. 
19 
An officer or employee who shall retire under the compUlsory or optional 
20 
retirement plan shaH be entitled to a refund of GSIS personal contributions and the 
21 
corresponding share of the government with interest earned. Likewise, all retiring officers 
22 
and employees shall be entitled to the commutation of unused vacation and sick leave in 
23 
accordance with existing rules and regulations. 
24 
25 
SEC. 13. Separation Benefits. -When an officer or employee is permanently 
26 
incapacitated to discharge the duties of his/her office, or dies while in the service or is 
27 
otherwise separated from the service for reasons beyond his/her control and who is not 
28 
qualified far retirement under Section 10 hereof, he/she or hislher heirs shall be paid a 
• 
29 
lump sum equivalent to two (2) months salary for every year of service, computed on the 
30 
basis of the last monthly salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of transportation, living 
31 
and representation allowances which he was receiving on the date of his incapacity, death 
32 
or separation from the service. The Secretary of the Senate shall properly certify this, the 
33 
Secretary General of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Commission on 
34 
Appointments, as the case may be. 
35 
5 


1 
SEC. 14. Suspension/Deprivation of Benefits. - Benefits due under this Act to any 
2 
officer or employee shall be withheld if the officer or employee has unliquidated accounts 
3 
or any pending administrative, criminal or civil case connected with his or her position. If 
4 
the officer or employee is found guilty, all benefits shall be forfeited; otherwise, the benefit 
5 
shall be paid in full plus interest as soon as the officer or employee is cleared of all 
6 
charges. 
7 
8 
SEC. 15. Retirement Benefits of the Secretay of the Senate, tke Secretay General 
9 
of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of both Houses, The Secretary 
10 
and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Commission on Appointments, and Co-Terminus 
11 
Employees. - The Secretary of the Senate, the Secretary General of the House of 
12 
Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of both Houses, the Secretary and the Sergeant-at-
13 
Arms of the Commission on Appointments, and co-tenninus staff of the Members of 
14 
Congress and of the Commission on Appointments, with at least fifteen (15) years of 
15 
service in the government, the last three (3) years of which have been continuously 
16 
rendered in the Senate, the House of Representatives or the Commission on Appointments, 
17 
may avail of the retirement and separation benefits subject to the conditions provided 
18 
under Sections 10, 11,12, and 13 hereof. 
19 
20 
SEC. 16. Enforcement of Retirement Benefits. - The Senate of the Philippines, the 
21 
House of Representatives and the Commission on Appointments, or their successors shall 
22 
take charge of the enforcement and operation of retirement benefits under this Act and no 
23 
officer or employee of Congress shall be entitled to receive any gratuity or pension herein 
24 
provided for unless from the month following the approval of this Act, in case of an actual 
25 
incumbent, or from the month following his/her appointment and qualification as such, in 
26 
case of a future appointment, he/she shall have contributed to the retirement funds, by 
27 
paying a monthly contribution equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her basic monthly 
28 
salary, three percent (3%) shall be allotted for insurance premium and seven percent (7%) 
29 
for retirement, with employer counterpart of twelve percent (12%). The retirement fund 
30 
shall be held in trust by the Government Service Insurance System which fund shall be 
31 
made available for the payment of the benefits under this Act. In case of deficiency in the 
32 
fund, the deficiency shall be paid out of the appropriation of either the Senate of the 
33 
Philippines, the House of Representatives and the Commission on Appointments, or their 
34 
successors. 
35 
6 


The President of the Senate andlor Speaker of the House of Representatives may 
2 
avail of management and technical assistance of the GSIS or enter into an agreement 
3 
concerning the administration and operation of the retirement funds of their respective 
4 
Houses. They may jointly or separately, authorize the GSIS or any other government 
5 
financing institution to invest the investible amounts of the said retirement funds in 
6 
accordance with existing laws and sound and prudent investment policies and practices. 
7 
8 
SEC. 17. Implemelttiltg Rules and Regulations. - Upon the recommendation of 
9 
the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House of Representatives, the 
10 
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall jointly 
11 
promulgate such rules and regulations for the proper implementation ofthis Act. 
12 
13 
SEC. 18. Appropriations. - The amount needed to carry out the initial 
14 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's Appropriations for 
15 
the Organizations Adjustment Fund and Miscellaneous Benefits Fund. Thereafter, such 
16 
sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual 
17 
General Appropriations Act. 
18 
19 
SEC. 19. Separability Clause. -Any portion or provision of this Act that may be 
20 
declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions 
21 
thereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their 
22 
entirety. 
23 
24 
SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. -All laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations, and 
25 
other issuances, or parts 'thereof, inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or modified 
26 
accordingly. 
27 
28 
SEC. 21. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
29 
pUblication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
30 
31 
Approved 
7