FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
.5. No.IOI9 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure 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 and 
specialized. Thus, the qualification standards of legislative personnel are specific and 
must conform 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 ·.Iegislative corps and devises a retirement scheme 
for all officers and employees in the Legislative Career Service. 
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 their untiring support 
. and dedication to this great political institution. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
C>'..J ) 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1019 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
. ANACT 
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 by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION. 1. 
Legis/ative Career Service . • There shall be established a 
Legislative Career Service for Congress composed of the following: 
(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 (LSCS) - to include Legislative Staff 
Assistant Employee positions which involve clerical, trades, crafts and 
custodial services in a hon-supervisory capacity. 
SEC. 2. 
Coverage . • The Legislative Career Service (LCS) shall include the 
officers and employees of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the 
Commission on Appointments (CA) .. 
SEC. 3. 
Objective. - It is the purpose of this measure to professionalize, 
upgrade and strengthen the work force of the Legislative Department to ensure that 
Congress and its Members shall be provided with qualified, efficient and effective 
legislative, administrative and security support services. Towards this end, a continuing 
pool of competent and development-oriented legislative career service officers and 
employees shall be established and maintained. 
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SEC. 4. 
Legislative Career Service Board. - There shall be a Legislative 
Career Service Board hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of the 
Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House, as Co-Chairmen; one 
(1) Career Official to be designateq by the President of the Senate, one (1) Career 
Official to be designated by the Speaker of the House, and the Chairman of the Civil 
Service Commission. The two (2) Career Officials for both Houses shall serve for a term 
of three (3) years. 
SEC. 5. 
Functions of the Board. - The Board shall: 
(a) 
Determine and evaluate the qualification of the 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 ~ performance evaluation system for LCSOs; 
(e) 
Keep a roster of those who have passed the LeSO examinations; and 
(f) 
Perform such other fUllctions as may be assigned by the President of the 
Senate or the Speaker of the House pursuant to its mandate. 
SEC. 6. 
Legislative Career Service Officers (LCSO) Eligibility. - LCSO 
eligibility shall be conferred by the Board to any person who meets such managerial and 
legislative experience and competence, leadership qualities and other relevant 
qualifications, and passes the examination prescribed by the Board. 
The examination shall 
con~ist of two stages: (a) Legislative/management 
aptitude test; and (b) Assessment of managerial capability and competence. Those who 
pass the managerial assessment will be subject to a validation process involving their 
superiors in order to ascertain their on-the-job performance. 
Successful completion of the managerial assessment and favorable results of the 
validation process and a final interview by the Board shall qualify the candidate for the 
grant of LCSO eligibility. 
Any incumbent officer or employee who is a Career Executive Service (CES) 
eligible prior to the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be conferred LCSO eligibility. 
SEC. 7. 
Qualification Requirements. - An applicant for LCSO eligibility 
must possess the following qualifications: 
(a) 
A Bachelor's degree; 
(b) 
Not be over fifty-five (5.5) years of age; 
(c) 
Must be a citizen of the Philippines; and 
(d) 
Must not have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a 
crime involving moral aptitude. 
SEC. 8. 
Appointments. - Appointments to appropriate positions in the 
Legislative Career Service shall be made by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of 
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the House of Representatives or the: Chairman of the Commission on Appointments, as 
the case may be. 
No person shall be eligible for appointment to any position in the Legislative 
Career Service unless he/she meets the qualification standards approved by the 
Legislative Career Service Board (LCSB) which shall at least be at par with the 
standards set by the Civil Service Commission. 
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: Provided, That he/she has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of service in 
the government, three (3) years of which have been continuously rendered in the 
legislative Department. If he/she has rendered less than fifteen (15) years of service, 
he/she shall be allowed to continue in Service up to a maximum of one (1) year, subject 
to Civil Service rules and regulations. 
Upon compulsory retirement, an officer or employee shall be entitled to a monthly 
pension for the duration of his/her natural life equivalent to the salary of the incumbent 
of the position he was retired from and a lump sum gratuity of five (5) years or sixty (60) 
months multiplied by two (2) months salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of 
transportation, living and representation allowances received at the time of retirement. 
An officer or employee who has reached the age of sixty (60) years with at least 
fifteen (15) years of service in government, the last three (3) years of which have been 
continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, may opt to retire under the 
compulsory retirement plan: Provided, That he/she shall be entitled to a monthly 
pension only upon the lapse of five (5) years from retirement. 
Likewise an incumbent who has availed of any prior optional retirement plan and 
has an accumulated thirty (30) years of service in government, three (3) years of which 
have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, shall be given full credit 
for services rendered by him/her prior to his/her reinstatement and shall receive the full 
benefits granted under this Act if he/she retires under the compulsory retirement plan: 
Provided, That he/she refunds all penSions and retirement benefits previously received. 
All pension benefits of retired officers and employees of the legislative 
department shall be automatically increased whenever there is an increase in the salary 
of the same position from which he/she retired. 
Except for the retirement benefits granted herein, officials and employees of the 
Legislative Career Service shall remain covered by the compulsory life insurance 
program of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and shall therefore be 
entitled to and may avail of GSIS benefits: Provided, That the corresponding personal 
and employer share for the life insurance coverage is paid and remitted. 
SEC. 11. 
Survivorship Benefits. - Upon the death of an officer or employee 
who has been retired, his/her surviving spouse and surviving legitimate minor children 
shall receive in equal shares seventy percent (70%) of the monthly retirement pay which 
he/she has been receiving at the time of his/her death: Provided, That no payment 
under this Section shall be made to the surviving spouse who remarries. 
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• 
SEC. 12. 
Optional Retirement. - An officer or employee, who has rendered 
an accumulated twenty (20) years of government service, the last three (3) years of 
which have been continuously rendered in the Legislative Department, may choose to 
retire from the service under the optional retirement plan subject to the approval of the 
President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case 
may be. 
Incumbents who have rendered at least ten (10) years of continuous service in 
Congress at the time of the adoption of this Act may likewise avail of the optional 
retirement. He/she shall be entitled to receive a lump sum gratuity equivalent to two (2) 
months salary for every year of service plus highest monthly aggregate of 
transportation, living and representation allowances as of the date of his/her retirement. 
A retiree under this Section shall not be eligible for appointment to or 
employment in Congress whether on a permanent, temporary, casual or emergency 
status within a period of three (3) years after retirement. 
An officer or employee who has been separated from the service shall be given 
full credit for services rendered by him/her prior to his/her reinstatement for purposes of 
determining his/her retirement or separation benefits under this Act: Provided, That 
he/she refunds all penSions and retirement benefits previously received. 
An officer or employee who shall retire under the compulsory or optional 
retirement plan shall be entitled to a refund of GSIS personal contributions and the 
corresponding share of the government with interest earned. Likewise, all retiring 
officers and employees shall be entitled to the commutation of unused vacation and sick 
leave in accordance with existing rules and regulations. 
SEC. 13. 
Separation Benefits. 
-
When 
an 
officer or employee is 
permanently incapacitated to discharge the duties of his/her office, or dies while in the 
service or is otherwise separated from the service for reasons beyond his/her control 
and who is not qualified far retirement under Section 10 hereof, he/she or his/her heirs 
shall be paid a lump sum equivalent to two (2) months salary for every year of service, 
computed on the basis of the last monthly salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of 
transportation, living and representation allowances which he was receiving on the date 
of his incapacity, death or separation from the service. This shall be properly certified by 
the Secretary of the Senate, the Secretary General of the House of Representatives or 
the Secretary of the Commission on Appointments (CA), as the case may be. 
SEC. 14. 
Suspension/Deprivation of Benefits. - Benefits due under this 
Act to any officer or employee shall be withheld if the officer or employee has 
unliquidated accounts or any pending administrative, criminal or civil case connected 
with his or her position. If the officer or employee is found guilty, all benefits shall be 
forfeited; otherwise, the benefit shall be paid in full plus interest as soon as the officer or 
employee is cleared of all charges. 
SEC. 15. 
Retirement Benefits of the Secretary of the Senate, the 
Secretary General of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of both 
Houses, the Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Commission on 
AppOintments, and Co-Terminous Employees. - The Secretary of the Senate, the 
Secretary General of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant-at-Arms of both 
Houses, the Secretary and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Commission on Appointments, 
and co-terminus staff of the Members of Congress and of the Commission on 
Appointments, with at least fifteen (15) years of service in the government, the last three 
(3) years of which have been continuously rendered in the Senate, the House of 
Representatives or the Commission' on Appointments, may avail of the retirement and 
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• 
separation benefits subject to the conditions provided under Sections 10, 11, 12, and 13 
hereof. 
SEC. 16. 
Enforcement of Retirement Benefits. - The Senate of the 
Philippines, the House of Representatives and the Commission on Appointments, or 
their successors shall take charge' of the enforcement and operation of retirement 
benefits under this Act and no officer or employee of Congress shall be entitled to 
receive any gratuity or pension herein provided for unless from the month following the 
approval of this Act, in case of an actual incumbent, or from the month following his/her 
appointment and qualification as such, in case of a future appointment, he shall have 
contributed to the retirement funds, ,by paying a monthly contribution equivalent to ten 
percent (10%) of his/her basic monthly salary, three percent (3%) shall be allotted for 
insurance premium and seven percent (7%) for retirement, with employer counterpart of 
twelve percent (12%). The retirement fund shall be held in trust by the Government 
Service Insurance System which fund shall be made available for the payment of the 
benefits under this Act. In case of deficiency in the fund, the deficiency shall be paid out 
of the appropriation of either the Senate of the Philippines, the House of 
Representatives and the Commission on Appointments, or their successors. 
The President of the Senate and/or Speaker of the House of Representatives 
may avail of management and technical assistance of the GSIS or enter into an 
agreement concerning the administration and operation of the retirement funds of their 
respective Houses. They may jointly or separately, authorize the GSIS or any other 
government financing institution to invest the investible amounts of the said retirement 
funds in accordance with existing laws and sound and prudent investment policies and 
practices. 
SEC. 17. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -
Upon the 
recommendation of the Secretary of the Senate and the Secretary General of the House 
of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, shall jointly promulgate such rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 18. 
Appropriations~ - The amount needed to carry out the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's Appropriations for 
the Organizations Adjustment Fund and Miscellaneous Benefits Fund. Thereafter, such 
sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 19. 
Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that may 
be declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 
provisions thereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given 
effect in their entirety. 
SEC. 20. 
Repealing Clause. -
All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations, and other iss'uances, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith, are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 21. 
Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
5