HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Republic of the Philippines _ 7
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS or ER

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__136

Introduced by HON. RODEL M. BATOCABE, HON. ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr., and
HON. CHRISTOPHER S. CO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to have an optional retirement age of 56 years of age for all
employees in the public and private sector. Aside from the obvious benefits of reducing
the retirement age to their physical health and professional careers, the reduction
harmonizes the retirement age across all government employees as well as private
employees. At present, the mandatory retirement age for the police and the AFP is 56
while other government employees still need to work for more years.

With lower optional retirement age, the retirees can enjoy a better quality of life
through their pension and retirement benefits at an earlier age, as a bill is already being
introduced to lower age to qualify as a senior citizen. VAT exemptions, mandatory
membership in the government's healthcare system, and discounts for medicines, basic
necessities, and services will all come at an earlier age, reducing the physical toil on our
citizens to keep working just to reach the retirement age and avail of the benefits of
being a senior citizen

This bodes well for the families of our retirees as well, as our retirees have more
time to spend with their loved ones in relative comfort. Our retirees and their families will
enjoy the fruits of decades’ worth of labor and will lessen the burden on the family's
spending,

The lower retirement age ultimately helps the bureaucracy, as it hastens the
turnover of government positions to younger professionals, making way for the infusion
of fresh blood in public service. Countless cases involving public officers emphasize the
need of a younger workforce in the government to inject new perspectives and insight
into the government's ranks. The bill also creates more employment opportunities for
those seeking employment in the government and a chance to serve the country.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

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RODEL M. BATOCABE “ALFREDO| GARBIN, Jr. CHRISTOPHER S. CO

REGISTRATION UNIT

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

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Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 136

Introduced by HON. RODEL M. BATOCABE, HON. ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr., and
HON. CHRISTOPHER S. CO.

AN ACT REDUCING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE TO 56 YEARS OLD.

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

SECTION 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the “Reduced Optional Retirement Age
Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy — It is the declared policy of the State to affirm labor
as a primary social economic force, protect the rights of workers and promote their
welfare, and to regulate the relations between workers and employers, recognizing the
right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production and the right of enterprises to
reasonable returns on investments, and to expansion and growth. To this end, the State
shall endeavor to lower the optional retirement age of all government and private
employees from 60 to 56 years old.

SECTION 3. Optional Retirement Age. — All employees in the government and private
sector, regardless of their position, designation, or status, and irrespective of the
method by which their wages are paid, upon reaching the age of fifty-six (56) shall be
eligible for retirement benefits under governing laws

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The DOLE shall, in consultation
with relevant government agencies, non-government organization and end-users,
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the Act within six (6)
months from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, or implementing
rules and regulations specifically inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked, repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,