EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
;i'i 
Senate
of tl)r &rcrrtarj>
'19 
AUG 27 P3 01
S E N A T E
B. No. 958
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
LOWERING 
THE 
OPTIONAL 
RETIREMENT AGE 
OF 
PUBLIC 
SCHOOL 
TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (6 0 ) YEARS OLD TO FIFTY-FIVE (5 5) YEARS OLD, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13-A OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE 
SYSTEM ACT OF 1997"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Many public school teachers have expressed their desire to retire from their 
noble profession at an age earlier than what is set by the law, which currently stands 
at 65 years-old.
Officially, instruction time is six hours each day, but some teachers work 
much longer hours on account of their multiple responsibilities at school. Teachers 
work in 40 out of 54 weeks per year, but they have duties during vacation months, 
and even beyond the classroom and the school premises.
Compared to figures worldwide, the physical, mental and emotional toll on 
teachers in the Philippine public school system is significantly higher than their 
counterparts in most countries. And yet, our teachers retire five years later than 
those in other countries, where the mandatory retirement age is generally at 60 
years old.
The country does face a perennial shortage of teachers, but respect and 
humane consideration for our hardworking educators should prompt policymakers 
and legislators to at least lower the optional retirement age from today's 60 years 
old to 55 years old as this proposed measure stipulates.


The work of our teachers should be highly valued in our society. And one 
way of demonstrating our gratitude to them is by the swift passage and approval of 
this measure.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
^cn<uc
of (tjr Ik rfrrta rp
■19 
AUG 27 P 3 « i
S E N A T E
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
LOWERING 
THE 
OPTIONAL 
RETIREMENT AGE 
OF 
PUBLIC 
SCHOOL 
TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (6 0 ) YEARS OLD TO FIFTY-FIVE (5 5 ) YEARS OLD, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13-A OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE 
SYSTEM ACT OF 1997'"
Be it enacted in the Senate and the House o f Representatives in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. 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 in paragraph (a) of
6 
Section 13 hereof: Provided, That SUCH MEMBER:
7 
"(1) [he] has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service;
8 
"(2) [he] is at least sixty (60) years of age at the time of retirement, OR
9 
AT LEAST FIFTY-FIVE (5 5 ) YEARS OF AGE IN  THE CASE OF
10 
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS; and
11 
'"(3) [he] is not receiving a monthly pension benefit from permanent total
12 
disability."
13 
Sec. 2. Repealing Clause. -  All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
14 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or


1 
parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
2 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
3 
Sec. 3. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
4 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,