I ^enatr
of tl)f ^rfretarji
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2389
23 AUG-7 P2 30
RECEIVEO BL
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION 
TO INCLUDE THE SECRETARY OF MIGRANT WORKERS AS EX-OFFICIO 
MEMBER AND TO DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OVERSEAS 
FILIPINO WORKERS AND SEAFARERS AS ONE OF THE APPOINTIVE 
MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE WORKERS GROUP, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 3 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11199, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE 'SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 2018'
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2019, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11199, or the 'Social Security Act of 
2018', SSS coverage became compulsory for all sea- and land-based OFWs as defined 
under Republic Act No. 8042, also known as the 'Migrant Workers Act' of 1995', as 
amended by Republic Act No. 10022, provided they are not yet over 60 years of age. 
For the sea-based or maritime sector, the manning agencies are considered in the law 
as 'agents of their principals' and are deemed employers of sea-based OFWs. In 
contrast, all land-based OFWs shall be deemed as SSS members under the self- 
employed category.
Moreover, RA 11199 established a Social Security Commission which shall have, 
among others, the following significant powers and duties:
a. To formulate, adopt, amend and/or rescind such rules and regulations 
as nhay be necessary to carry out the provisions and purposes of the Act;


b. To develop and administer a special social security program for workers, 
with unique economic, social, and geographic situations, as determined 
by the Commission, which may have different contributions and benefits 
that are proportionately calculated to be fair, equitable, actuarially sound 
and viable, and wherein the same legal privileges as the regular social 
security program enjoys shall be given; and,
c. To settle any dispute arising under the Act with respect to coverage, 
benefits, contributions and penalties thereon or any other matter related 
thereto.
Hence, the direct significance of the Commission's functions to the interest and 
welfare of OFWs cannot be understated.
The Commission is composed of the Secretary of Finance as ex officio 
Chairperson, the SSS President and Chief Executive Officer as Vice-Chairperson, the 
Secretary of Labor and Employment as ex officio member, and six (6) appointive 
members, three (3) of whom shall represent the workers' group, with at least one (1) 
shall be a woman, and three (3) from the employers' group, at least one (1) of whom 
shall also be a woman; all of whom shall be appointed by the President of the 
Philippines. The six (6) members representing workers and employers' groups shall be 
chosen from among the nominees of workers' and employers' organizations 
respectively, as endorsed by the Governance Commission for GOCCs following the fit 
and proper rule and standards on integrity, experience, education, training and 
competence.
This bill seeks to designate a representative of the overseas Filipino workers 
and seafarers as one (1) of the three (3) appointive members representing the workers 
group in the Commission as provided for in the law, in consonance with the policy 
ensuring the right of Filipino migrant workers, seafarers and all overseas Filipinos to 
participate in the democratic decision-making processes of the State and in institutions 
relevant to overseas employment.
Furthermore, this measure proposes the inclusion of the Secretary of Migrant 
Workers as ex-officio member of the Commission together with the Secretary of Labor
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and Employment. The rationale being with the establishment of the Department of 
Migrant Workers (DMW) by virtue of Republic Act No. 11641, the DMW is now the 
primacy government agency tasked to protect the rights, promote the welfare, and 
regulate the recruitment, employment, and deployment of OFWs.
Representation is at the core of democratic processes and is the link between 
the representatives and the sectors or interests represented in ensuring that their true 
sentiments and preferences are adopted in the decision-making processes.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
MANtJEL "LITO
Senator
.LAPID


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
2389
Senate
23 AUG -7 P2 :30
RECEIVED 8V.
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
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EXPANDING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION
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TO INCLUDE THE SECRETARY OF MIGRANT WORKERS AS EX-OFFICIO
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MEMBER AND TO DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OVERSEAS
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FILIPINO WORKERS AND SEAFARERS AS ONE OF THE APPOINTIVE
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MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE WORKERS GROUP, AMENDING FOR THE
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PURPOSE SECTION 3 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11199, OTHERWISE KNOWN
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AS THE 'SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 2018'
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 3, paragraph (a) of Republic Act No. 11199, also known as
10 the 'Social Security Act of 2018, is hereby amended to read as follows:
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Section 3. Social Security System -
a. To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Social Security System, 
hereinafter referred to as "SSS", a corporate body, with principal 
place of business in Metro Manila, Philippines, is hereby created. 
In the discharge of its mandated responsibilities under this Act, 
the SSS shall function and operate as an independent and 
accountable government-owned and -controlled corporation 
(GOCC) within the corporate governance standards and principles 
of Republic Act No. 10149 (GCG Law), except as otherwise 
provided herein.


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The SSS shall be directed and controlled by a Social Security 
Commission, hereinafter referred to as "Commission", composed 
of the Secretary of Finance as ex officio Chairperson, the SSS 
President and Chief Executive Officer as Vice-Chairperson who 
shall automatically act as the Commission Chairperson in the 
absence of the Finance Secretary, the Secretary of Labor and 
Employment, as ex officio member, THE SECRETARY OF 
MIGRANT WORKERS, AS EX-OFFICIO MEMBER, and six (6) 
appointive members, three (3) of whom shall represent the 
workers' group, ONE OF WHOM SHALL COME FROM THE 
RANKS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND 
SEAFARERS, AND at least one (1) of whom shall be a woman; 
three (3), the employers' group, at least one (1) of whom shall be 
a woman; all of whom shall be appointed by the President of the 
Philippines and shall be of known competence, probity, integrity 
and recognized expertise in any of the fields of social security, 
pension fund, insurance, investment, banking and finance, 
economics, management, law or actuarial science and with at 
least ten (10) years of managerial or leadership experience. The 
six (6) members representing workers and employers' groups 
shall be chosen from among the nominees of workers' and 
employers' organizations respectively, as endorsed by the 
Governance Commission for GOCCs following the fit and proper 
rule and standards on integrity, experience, education, training 
and competence. The term of office of the regular appointive 
members of the Commission shall be three (3) years, which can 
be extended for another term of three (3) years: Provided, That 
the terms of the first six (6) appointive members shall be one (1), 
two (2), and three (3) years for every two (2) members, 
respectively, notwithstanding Section 17 of the GCG 
Law: Provided, further. That they shall continue to hold Office 
until their successors shall have been appointed and duly
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qualified. All vacancies, prior to the expiration of the term, shall 
be filled for the unexpired term only.
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XXX
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Section 2. Repealing Clause- All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
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issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed
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or modified accordingly.
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Section 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
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after its publication in the Official Gazette ov in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,