Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT PROGRAM UNDER THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), IMPLEMENTING 
SECTION 62 OF REPUBLIC ACT 7157 ALSO KNOWN AS THE "FOREIGN 
SERVICE ACT OF 1991" 
Sec. 62 of the Foreign Service Act of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7157) states that "the 
President upon recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may, as soon as 
practicable, submit for enactment by Congress of a foreign affairs retirement and 
disability system, taking into account the difficulties of foreign service personnel in 
setting aside sufficient savings to take care their eventual retirement in the Philippines 
due to old age or some other disability, with the increased burden of establishing a 
home in the Philippines after completion of their tour of duty abroad." 
There is still no law, 30 years since the enactment of RA 7157, on foreign affairs 
retirement and disability system as contemplated by its Section 62. It is a disservice 
to our people in the foreign service who put in invaluable work abroad under 
challenging circumstances. This bill therefore intends to provide both present and 
future retirees of the foreign service support that is both adequate and responsive.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
July 3, 2021
4:07 am
9760


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREMENT PROGRAM UNDER THE 
GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), IMPLEMENTING 
SECTION 62 OF REPUBLIC ACT 7157 ALSO KNOWN AS THE "FOREIGN 
SERVICE ACT OF 1991" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – Article XVI, Section 8 of the 1987 Philippine 
Constitution states that "the State shall from time to time review to upgrade the 
pensions and benefits due to retirees of both government and private sectors." It is 
the policy of this bill to provide adequate and reasonable retirement program to the 
members of the Philippine Foreign Service and to implement section 62 of Republic 
Act No. 7151 also known as the Foreign Service Act of 1971, which remained 
unimplemented for thirty (30) years and states among others that "the President upon 
recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs may, as soon as practicable, 
submit for enactment by Congress of a foreign affairs retirement and disability system, 
taking into account the difficulties of foreign service personnel in setting aside 
sufficient savings to take care their eventual retirement in the Philippines due to old 
age or some other disability, with the increased burden of establishing a home in the 
Philippines after completion of their tour of duty abroad." 
SECTION 2. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all officers and personnel of the 
Foreign Service who retired prior to the enactment of this Act and will retire after the 
effectivity of this Act, provided the following conditions are met: 
1. Service in the Department or in other agencies of the government for at least 
fifteen (15) years;
2. Members of and are eligible to receive a monthly pension from the Government 
Service Insurance System (GSIS).
SECTION 3. Automatic Adjustment of Monthly Pension. – The monthly pension of 
all members of the Foreign Service covered under this Act shall be automatically 
adjusted at the same rate as any future or subsequent increase in the salary grade of 
9760


 
 
the same rank he or she retired from. 
 
 
SECTION 4. Additional Entitlements. – All officers and employees by this Act shall 
be eligible for disability and death benefits as provided under RA 8291 and other 
relevant laws. 
 
SECTION 5. Funding. – Funding for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced 
from the member-government contribution of the DFA, in accordance with RA 8291. 
 
Differential funding for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced from any 
available savings of the DFA, and from percentage of the annual consular income of 
the DFA as included in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
To ensure that the cost of this Retirement Program is adequately met, DFA and GSIS 
shall meet on a yearly basis to discuss on the yearly funding requirement. Such funds 
necessary to meet the yearly funding requirement which are beyond the GSIS 
mandated contribution, shall be for the account of the DFA. The DFA shall remit to the 
GSIS as much funds as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this 
Program. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred eighty 
days (180 days) after the effectivity of this Act, the GSIS and the DFA shall jointly draft 
and issue the rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.  
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.  
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, 
executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,