REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3398

Introduced by Representative TYRONE D AGABAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to lower the optional retirement age of public school
teachers from 60 to 55 years old so as to give justice to the plight of our
public school teachers.

It is said, when a public teacher retires at the age of 55, he or
she will probably reach the age of 80, but when a public teacher
retires at the age of 60, he or she will only reach the age of 65.

This is how the longevity of public teachers is now measured given
the herculean task lodged unto them in a day to day basis. The
continuing hazard and high level of stress attendant to the environment
in which they live in, mostly result to absorption of occupation related
diseases like lung cancer and other terminal illnesses. Records disclose
that public school teachers in our country are working under bleak
working conditions. Teachers also work in 40 out of 54 weeks per year.
Working under this condition, propelled by long hours of works inclusive
of vacation months and holidays, as teachers continue to bring their
advisory and work related loads at home, unnecessarily exposes public
teachers to deteriorating health conditions.

Public school teachers should be given the necessary accolades for
a job well done. They should be given the privilege of optional retirement
at an earlier age taking into consideration the working conditions they
are in, and the tributes that should be conferred upon them for their
contribution in transforming our students into an educated and
productive citizens, And most importantly, public school teachers should


be given the option and the opportunity to enjoy their lives at an earlier
stage for themselves and their families at the age of 55.

Approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ary. TYRONE D. AGABAS

is Representative
6t District, Pangasinan


Nowe w

10
Sey
2

13
14

Republic of the Enllgaines
HOUSE OF
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

HOUSE BILL NO. 3998

AN ACT
LOWERING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT AGE OF PUBLIC SHOOL
TEACHERS FROM SIXTY (60) YEARS OLD TO FIFTY-FIVE (55)
YEARS OLD AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 13-A OF
REPUBLIC ACT 8291, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE GOVERNMENT
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM ACT OF 1997

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 13-A of Republic Act 8291, or the Revised
Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“Section 13-A. Conditions for Entitlement, x x x A member
who retires from the service shall be entitled to the
retirement benefits in paragraph (a) of Section 13 hereof:
Provided, That:

“(1) he OR SHE has rendered at least fifteen (15) years of
service;
“(2) he OR 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 SHOOL TEACHERS; and

*(3) he OR SHE is not receiving a monthly pension benefit
from permanent total disability”

Page 1


15
16
7

18
19

20

SECTION 2. The provisions in pertinent implementing rules and
regulations and other issuances inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

‘Approved,

Page 2