Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

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Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. 541

Introduced by Honorable Dan S. Fernandez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A few years ago, there was a scholarly study made about the ageing
population, which is now a worldwide phenomenon for all countries in the
world except those in Africa. It was observed that the aging of
populations, including that of the Philippines, is unprecedented. A
combination of decreasing fertility rates and the increasing life expectancy
have produced an aging population. People are living longer because of
advances in medicine, better nutrition, better health care, better education
and over-all well-being of society.

As a result also of better health care and education, studies have
shown that many ofoursenior citizens arestill verymuch productive. Were
it not for our compulsory or mandatory retirement laws, these "elderly" but
still productive citizens would still be part of the labor force. What
happens then when senior citizens begin to form a sizable chunk of our
population, as a consequence of the "ageing" population phenomenon?
The Philippine economy then would have to be shouldered or supported
by the thinning ranks of the youth, and this might not be good for our
society. Note that in the Philippines, the statistics show that the rate of
increase of elderly population is faster than the growth of the population
itself, hence, the scenario contemplated here could very well materialize in
the near future.

This bill seeks to remedy this foreseeable problem. By allowing
the extension of services of retireable officials and employees in the
government under exceptional circumstances, Philippine society could
still tap the services of the elderly but still productive citizens. Besides, it
also makes sense inasmuch as if our laws allow for "early" retirement,
then there ought to be an option for "late" or "delayed" retirement as
well. [fit is argued that

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permitting late retirement would deprive our elderlies the opportunity to
enjoy the fruits of their labor or the "sunset years" of their lives, so to speak,
it could equally be argued that in many instances, retirement has not been
beneficial to or ideally worked for certain people. Without much more to do
and abandoning their personal discipline as before, retired individuals tend to
slacken in their habits and begin to acquire ailments. No longer "busy" or
focused on their erstwhile work assignments, they start becoming more
conscious of their advanced years and inexorably tend to weaken mentally
and physically. The bottomline, however, is it might be better to give people
the choice of retiring early, on time or late. In any case. this bill adopts a
balanced approach by allowing the extension of services only up to a
maximum of five (5) years.

In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early enactment of
this measure into law is earnestly recommended.

DAN S. FERNANDEZ
Lone District of Santa Rosa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Nineteenth Congress

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 941

Introduced by Honorable Dan S. Fernandez

ANACT
ALLOWING THE EXTENSION OF SERVICES OF RETIREABLE
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

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

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rules or
regulations to the contrary, the services of any retircable official or
employee in the government service may be extended, by not more than
five (5) years, upon the concurrence of the following circumstances:

(a)The concerned official or employee ha d such an

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option in writing to his office, agency or instrumentality;

(b)The head of the unit, agency or instrumentality where the
official or employee belongs has certified that the latter
possesses certain skills or competencies that are necessary or
desirable to the performance of the mandate of the said office;

and

(c) A duly accredited government physician has issued a medical


certification that the subject official or employee is still fit for
work,

SEC. 2. Nothing in this Act shall deprive the official or
employee whose services has been extended of benefits to which he

may be entitled under existing law.

SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions ofthis Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended

accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,