EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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•19 
JUL 24 A9 56
SENATE
S. B. NO. 715
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
LOWERING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC 
SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD 
TO FIFTY-FIVE (55) 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
This bill aims to lower the optional retirement age of public school 
teachers from 60 to 55 years old by amending Republic Act No. 8291, 
otherwise known as The Revised Government Service Insurance System Act 
of 1997, for the following reasons:
First, teaching is a mentally, psychologically, and physically rigorous 
and demanding occupation. Public school teachers are required to render six- 
hours of actual classroom teaching and the remaining two hours are set aside 
for non-contact duties such as attending meetings and marking. In reality, 
however, they are working more than eight hours a day and sometimes even 
during weekends and public holidays, sacrificing health and work-life 
integration. Oftentimes, teachers in public schools also perform non-teaching 
tasks during elections and national census, among other occasions.


Moreover, while the ideal students/pupil-teacher ratio is 45:1 for 
secondary level and 35:1 for elementary level, class sizes reach above 70 up 
to about 801 in congested cities causing undue stress to both teachers and 
learners, to say the very least.
In remote areas, teachers face immense challenge on their commute to 
the schools. Some spend several hours walking miles and in some cases, 
crossing several rivers just to get to their classes on time. On the other hand, 
school heads and principals who are assigned to a cluster of at least three or 
more schools commute more often to get to and from these clustered schools 
on a daily basis.
Second, Filipino teachers retire at age 65 while their counterparts in 
most ASEAN countries retire at age 60 (UNPAN, 2004). A report revealed that 
all elementary school teachers in Indonesia and Malaysia are below 60 years 
old while about 62,000 elementary teachers in the Philippines are now over 
60 years old. Filipino teachers also retire five years later than in most 
American and European countries.
Third, thousands of retired DepEd teachers and personnel who want to 
pursue entrepreneurial activities or to spend more quality time with their 
families and loved ones will benefit once the retirement age for teachers is 
lowered. As a matter of fact, many teachers could not even reach the optional 
retirement age because of their health conditions. Flence, this proposal can 
help our teachers enjoy their retirement years while they are still healthy, 
agile, and strong.
Fourth, this measure could open job opportunities to younger batch of 
teachers or fresh graduates who are looking for a career in teaching. About 
75,000 new teachers would pass the Licensure Examination for Professional 
Teachers (LET) annually. Flowever, due to lack of teaching items, most LET 
passers are forced to accept non-teaching jobs locally and abroad. Others 
who were ranked by the DepEd would have to wait for at least one to two 
years before getting an appointment because senior teachers are still holding 
the posts.
Fifth, there are evidences that younger teachers are more productive 
and work more collaboratively. The K-12 Law or Enhanced Basic Education 
Act of 2013 demands that K-12 teachers be energetic, healthy, and fit. 
Likewise, closer generation gap between younger digital native teachers and 
learners will better equip students with information, media and technology 
skills, and learning and innovation skills necessary to nurture and holistically 
develop Filipino learner.
' 2014, June 3. Students swamp congested’ Metro Manila schools Retrieved from;
http://newsinfo.inquirer net/607755/school-heads-cede-offices-to-classes-626-metro-public-schools-have-2- 
shifts#ixzz4NbbibF5H (date last accessed: July 11, 2019).


Our teachers should have the freedom to decide what they want to do 
while they are still strong, i.e., whether to retire early or to spend the 
remaining years of their lives in pursuit of teaching before reaching the 
mandatory retirement age of 65.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATORyOEL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 715
Senate
of Ibt ftftrftflr?
’19 JUL 24 A9 57
RECElUDUY.___
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
LOWERING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC 
SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD 
TO FIFTY-FIVE (55) 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 by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. 
Lowering of Optional Retirement Age. -  Section 13-A of 
Republic Act No. 8291, otherwise known as The Government Service 
Insurance System Act of 1997, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 13-A. Conditions for Entitlement. - A member who retires from 
the service shall be entitled to the retirement benefits enumerated in 
paragraph (a) of Section 13 hereof: Provided, That:
(1) 
he/SHE has rendered at least fifteen years of service;
(2) 
he/SHE is at least sixty (60) years of age at the time of retirement 
OR AT LEAST FIFTY-FIVE (55) YEARS OF AGE IN THE CASE 
OF PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS; and
(3) 
he/SHE is not receiving a monthly pension benefit from permanent 
total disability.
SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Government System Insurance System, 
Department of Education and other concerned government agencies shall


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promulgate 
the 
necessary 
rules 
and 
regulations 
for 
the 
effective 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 3. Repealing clause. -  All laws and any other law or parts of law 
specifically inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,