Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1604

Introduced by Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Alfredo A. Garbin Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to set the optional retirement age at 56 years of age for all
employees in the public and private sectors. Aside from the obvious benefits of
reducing the retirement age to their physical health and professional careers, itis also
perceived to harmonize the retirement age for all government employees as well as
private-sector employees.

At present, the mandatory retirement age for the military and uniformed
personnel is 56 while other government employees still need to work for more years.
With a lower optional retirement age, the retirees can enjoy a better quality of life
through their pension and retirement benefits at an earlier age, as a bill is already
being introduced to lower the age to qualify as a senior citizen. VAT exemptions,
mandatory membership in the governments healthcare system, and discounts for
medicines, necessities, and services will all come at an earlier age, reducing the
physical toil on our citizens to keep working just to reach the retirement age and avail
of the benefits of being a senior citizen.

This bodes well for the families of our retirees as well, as our retirees have
more time to spend with their loved ones in relative comfort. Our retirees and their
families will enjoy the fruits of decades’ worth of labor and will lessen the burden on
the family's spending. The lower retirement age ultimately helps the bureaucracy, as
ithastens the tumover of government positions to younger professionals, making way
for the infusion of fresh blood in publie service.

Countless cases involving public officers emphasize the need for a younger
workforce in the government to inject new perspectives and insight into the
government's ranks. The bill also creates more employment opportunities for those
secking employment in the government and a chance to serve the country.



‘Thus, this bill secks to amend the social pension provision of RA 9994 and
expand the coverage of social pension to all scnior citizens while indexing the
current benefit amount to inflation.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

,
House Bit No. 160%

Introduced by Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Alfredo A. Garbin Jr.

AN ACT REDUCING THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT
AGE TO 56 YEARS OLD

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

SEC. I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Reduced Retirement Age Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to affirm
labor as a primary social economic force, protect the rights of workers and
promote their welfare, and to regulate the relations between workers and
employers, recognizing the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of
production and the right of enterprises to reasonable returns on investments, and
to expansion and growth. To this end, the State shall endeavor to lower the
optional retirement age of all government and private employees from 60 to 56
years old.

SEC. 3. Optional Retirement Age - All employees in the government and_ private
sector, regardless of their position, designation, or status, and irrespective of the
method by which their wages are paid, upon reaching the age of fifty-six (56) shall
be eligible for retirement benefits under governing laws.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) shall, in consultation with relevant government agencies,
non-government organizations, and end-users, promulgate the Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Act within six (6) months from the effectivity
of this Act.


SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - AU laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations

inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,