Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. 3978 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
When Republic Act No. 9347 took effect in July 2006, officials of the National Labor 
Relations Commission (NLRC) were granted the same status, compensation, retirement benefits, 
and privileges as those accorded to members of the judiciary. In order to implement this parity, 
the retirement system of NLRC Commissioners and Labor Arbiters was later transferred from 
the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to the Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM). 
While this shift was meant to give effect to their special retirement scheme under the law, 
it inadvertently excluded the grant of survivorship benefits to their qualified dependents. As a 
result, since 2008, surviving spouses and beneficiaries of NLRC officials have been denied the 
financial support that they rightfully deserve and had previously enjoyed under the GSIS system. 
Survivorship benefits are a core component of retirement privileges, ensuring that the 
families of deceased public servants continue to receive financial security. These benefits are not 
extraordinary entitlements, but standard features of retirement systems both in government and in 
the private sector. The absence of such support for NLRC officials’ families has created a glaring 
inequality, especially since other NLRC personnel and government employees of lower rank 
continue to receive survivorship pensions. 
This has produced a distorted situation where widows of NLRC officials who retired before 
2008 remain entitled to survivorship pensions, while those whose spouses retired thereafter are 
unjustly excluded. Such an outcome constitutes a clear diminution of benefits, contrary to Section 
4 of R.A. 9347 which expressly prohibits the reduction of existing benefits in the course of 
implementing the law. 
The proposed measure seeks to remedy this inequity by restoring survivorship benefits to 
the dependents of NLRC Commissioners and Labor Arbiters. It is intended to correct a long-
August 26, 2025
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standing oversight, uphold the principle of equal treatment, and fulfill the legislative intent of 
granting parity between NLRC officials and members of the judiciary. 
 
Failure to address this anomaly not only perpetuates discrimination against the affected 
families but also undermines the prestige of the NLRC as an institution and discourages highly 
qualified lawyers from entering its service. 
In view of the importance and urgency of this legislative intervention, its swift passage into 
law is earnestly sought. 
 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. 3978 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT 
GRANTING SURVIVORSHIP AND ALL OTHER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS 
IN PARITY WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE JUDICIARY, IN 
FAVOR OF THE CHAIRPERSON, COMMISSIONER OR LABOR ARBITER 
OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL 
DECREE 442, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE 
PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled. 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Survivorship Benefits for NLRC 
Act.” 
SECTION 2. Parity in Salaries and Benefits. – Article 223, Chapter I, Title II, Book Five, 
of Presidential Decree No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, as 
amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
ART. 223. Salaries, Benefits, and Emoluments. – The Chairman and 
members of the Commission shall have the same rank, receive an annual salary 
equivalent to, and be entitled to the same allowances, retirement and benefits as 


those of the Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals, 
respectively. Labor Arbiters shall have the same rank, receive an annual salary 
equivalent to and be entitled to the same allowances, retirement and other benefits 
and privileges as those of the judges of the Regional Trial Courts. THE 
CHAIRPERSON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE LABOR 
ARBITERS SHALL LIKEWISE RECEIVE SURVIVORSHIP AND OTHER 
BENEFITS UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9946, ENTITLED “AN ACT 
GRANTING ADDITIONAL RETIREMENT, SURVIVORSHIP, AND OTHER 
BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 910, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”.   
"UPON THE DEATH OF THE CHAIRPERSON, MEMBER OF THE 
COMMISSION OR LABOR ARBITER, IF SUCH OFFICIAL HAS RETIRED, 
OR WAS ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE OPTIONALLY AT THE TIME OF DEATH, 
THE SURVIVING LEGITIMATE SPOUSE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO 
RECEIVE ALL THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS THAT THE DECEASED 
SAID OFFICIAL WOULD HAVE RECEIVED HAD HE OR SHE NOT DIED. 
THE SURVIVING SPOUSE SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCH 
RETIREMENT BENEFITS UNTIL THE SURVIVING SPOUSE'S DEATH OR 
REMARRIAGE. 


IN THE ABSENCE OF A SURVIVING SPOUSE, THE SURVIVORSHIP 
BENEFIT SHALL TRANSFER TO THE SURVIVING CHILD OR CHILDREN 
OF THE SAID OFFICIAL, DIVIDED EQUALLY IF MORE THAN ONE (1), 
UNTIL THEY REACH THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21), OR IN CASE OF 
CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF MAJORITY BUT ARE 
UNABLE TO FULLY TAKE CARE OF OR PROTECT THEMSELVES AS 
DEFINED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7610, UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT 
SUCH INFIRMITY IS REMOVED.  
IN THE ABSENCE OF A SURVIVING SPOUSE OR CHILDREN, THE 
SURVIVORSHIP BENEFITS SHALL TRANSFER TO THE SAID OFFICIAL’S 
SURVIVING PARENT OR PARENTS, DIVIDED EQUALLY IF MORE THAN 
ONE (1), UNTIL THE REST OF THE PARENT’S NATURAL LIFE.    
THE ABOVE STATED OFFICIALS SHALL ALSO BE ENTITLED TO 
ALL OTHER ALLOWANCES, RETIREMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS AND 
PRIVILEGES 
GRANTED 
IN 
FAVOR 
OF 
THEIR 
JUDICIARY 
COUNTERPARTS AS MAY HAVE BEEN OR HEREINAFTER GRANTED BY 
LAW, RULES OR REGULATIONS.  In no case, however, shall the provision of 
this Article result in the diminution of the existing salaries, allowances and 
benefits of the aforementioned officials.  


SECTION 3. Coverage. – The benefits under this Act shall be granted to all the said NLRC 
Officials who have retired prior to the effectivity of this Act, Provided that, the benefits shall 
accrue only upon the effectivity of this Act.   
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the NLRC shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the continuing implementation 
of this Act shall be programmed by the Commission to be included in the General Appropriations 
Act. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act, or any parts thereof, is 
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other portions. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
proclamations, rules, regulations, issuances and enactments of parts thereof inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette of in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, 
whichever comes earlier. 
  APPROVED.