1 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
Second Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
 
S E N A T E 
 
S. No. _______ 
 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
 
 
AN ACT 
GRANTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES THE POWER TO SUSPEND 
THE SCHEDULED INCREASES IN SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS) 
CONTRIBUTION RATES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
11199, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 2018” 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
 
The novel Coronavirus pandemic caused tremendous hardships to many. 
Economies around the world were shut down. Established multinational companies 
suffered huge losses. Millions of workers were displaced or permanently laid off by the 
sudden economic shift.  
 
The International Labor Organization (ILO) reported that around 10.9 million 
Filipinos, or a quarter of the country’s total employment, “lost their jobs and had lower 
incomes and working hours” in 2020 due to the health emergency. The Philippines 
had its worst unemployment rate at 10.4% in fifteen years following the nationwide 
lockdown and implementation of strict quarantine measures.  
 
At this time, the employers and the labor force are struggling to make both 
ends meet. Hence, relief from any additional financial imposition or expenditure could 
greatly assist the public and the businesses to get by and survive the recession.   
Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018 was enacted as an 
effort to strengthen the pension fund, extend its fund life, and expand the benefits 
enjoyed by its members. It provides, among others, the gradual increase of member 
contribution rate from 12% in 2019 until it becomes 15% in 2025. For 2021, members 
Jan 19 2021
4:00 p.m.
1996


2 
 
will be greeted by a 1% increase in contribution rate, shared by the employer and the 
employee. 
 
This bill seeks to empower the President of the Philippines, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Finance, to defer the implementation of the scheduled increases in 
contribution rates of the Social Security System in times of national emergency or 
calamity. This measure intends to give the President the necessary flexibility to 
suspend the mandated adjustments whenever the public interest requires, especially 
in the event of a severe national crisis. 
Consideration of this bill is highly recommended. 
 
 
 
 
RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
 


1 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
Second Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
 
S E N A T E 
 
S. No. _______ 
 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
 
 
AN ACT 
GRANTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES THE POWER TO SUSPEND 
THE SCHEDULED INCREASES IN SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM (SSS) 
CONTRIBUTION RATES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
11199, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 2018” 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
 
 
 
Section 1. Section 4 (a) (9) of Republic Act No. 11199 is hereby amended to 
1 
read as follows:  
2 
 
 
Sec. 4. Powers and Duties of the Commission and SSS. –  
3 
(a) The Commission. – For the attainment of its main 
4 
objectives as set forth in Section 2 hereof, the Commission 
5 
shall have the following powers and duties: 
6 
x x x 
7 
(9) To implement the rate of contributions as well as the 
8 
minimum and maximum monthly salary credits in accordance 
9 
with the following schedule effective January of the year of 
10 
implementation as follows: 
11 
x x x  
12 
“THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES MAY, IN 
13 
CONSULTATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE 
14 
AS EX-OFFICIO CHAIRPERSON OF THE SOCIAL 
15 
SECURITY 
COMMISSION, 
SUSPEND 
THE 
16 
Jan 19 2021
4:00 p.m.
1996


2 
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEDULED INCREASES IN 
1 
CONTRIBUTION RATES IN TIMES OF NATIONAL 
2 
EMERGENCY OR CALAMITY WHEN PUBLIC INTEREST 
3 
SO REQUIRES.” 
4 
Sec. 2. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
5 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise 
6 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
7 
Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
8 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
9 
Sec. 4. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
10 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
11 
Approved, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


1