Senate
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
s. no2110
23 HAY -3 All 36
RECEIVED av;
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
GRANTING SURVIVORSHIP BENEFITS TO THE SURVIVING LEGITIMATE 
SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF A DECEASED RETIRED 
CHAIRPERSON. COMMISSIONER OR LABOR ARBITER OF THE NATIONAL 
LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 8, Article XVI of the 1987 Constitution provides that 'the State shall, from 
time to time, review to upgrade the pensions and other benefits due to retirees of both 
the government and private sectors." Meanwhile, Republic Act (RA) No. 9347 which 
rationalized the functions of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) also 
provides that '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."
With the enactment of RA 9946, members of the Judiciary and their beneficiaries 
were granted additional retirement and survivorship benefits. However, the chairperson, 
commissioners and labor arbiters of the NLRC are not covered by the increase in 
retirement and survivorship benefits.


In order to make the retirement benefits of labor arbiters at par with that of the 
members of the Judiciary, his bill seeks to grant survivorship benefits to the surviving 
legitimate spouse of the deceased retired chairperson, commissioners and labor arbiters 
of the National Labor Relations Commission. Through this bill, we seek to rectify the 
seemingly skewed situation where appellate court justices and NLRC commissioners, as 
well as regional trial court judges and labor arbiters, do not enjoy the same retirement 
and survivorship benefits.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
23 MAY -3 A11 36
)
SENATE
S. No. 2110
RECEl'-'tD 8>';
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
GRANTING SURVIVORSHIP BENEFITS TO THE SURVIVING LEGITIMATE 
SPOUSE AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN OF A DECEASED RETIRED 
CHAIRPERSON. COMMISSIONER OR LABOR ARBITER OF THE NATIONAL 
LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. In case of death of the chairperson, commissioner or labor arbiter of 
the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), who has retired, or was eligible for 
optional retirement at the time of death, the surviving legitimate spouse and dependent 
children of the deceased is entitled to receive, on a monthly basis, all the retirement 
benefits that the deceased chairperson, commissioner or labor arbiter of the NLRC 
would have received at the time of demise.
For purposes of this Act, "dependent children" refers to a legitimate, illegitimate or 
legally adopted child who is chiefly dependent on the said deceased chairperson, 
commissioner or labor arbiter, if such dependent is not more than twenty-one (21) 
years of age, unmarried and not gainfully employed, or if such dependent, regardless of 
age, is incapable of self-support because of any mental or physical defect or condition.
The surviving legitimate spouse shall continue to receive such retirement benefits 
until the death or remarriage of the said surviving spouse: Provided, That the surviving 
spouse and dependent children shall each equally share the retirement benefits.
SEC. 2. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be 
charged against the savings of the NLRC for the current year.


Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,