FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
~~ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to upgrade the retirement benefits now found in various retirement 
laws for Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman, by adding 
survivorship benefits for the surviving legitimate spouse of the said retirees' equivalent 
to the monthly pension of the deceased retirees' lifetime pension. 
Survivorship pension originally was an integral part of the retirement system for 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. But this feature has been included in the revised 
general retirement system for civilian personnel administered by the GSlS by 
Presidential Decree 1146 since 1977 or more than 21 years ago. 
The enactment of this bill into law wouid be in consonance with the 1987 
Constitution provision on the upgrading of retirement benefits (Art. XVI, section 8). It is 
also in keeping with the public purpose or rationale of the legislative grant of old age 
retirement pensions to qualified civil servants: To entice capable men/women of proven 
probity, integrity and independence to enter and remain in the government service, 
especially in highly sensitive offices, discharging their duties faithfully and efficiently. 
Liberal retirement benefits would assure them of retirement with relative security after 
rendering almost a lifetime of public service, when they have lost their vigor or are 
already old or incapacitated by illness or other disability. 
Accordingly, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
fl 
MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
,,-' 
I in: i 
.~' , -. , . 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBlRl 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF SURVIVORSHIP BENEFITS TO THE 
SURVIVING LEGITIMATE SPOUSE OF A DECEASED RETIRED MEMBER OF THE 
COMMISSION ON AUDIT, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, COMMISSION ON 
ELECTIONS, COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OMBUDSMAN, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. In case of the death of a retired Chairman or Commissioner of the 
Commission on Audit, the Commission on Elections, the Civil Service Commission, 
Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman, the surviving legitimate spouse of 
said deceased retiree shall be entitled to receive on a monthly basis all the retirement 
benefits that the said deceased retiree was receiving at the time of hidher demise under 
the provisions of applicable retirement laws then in force. The said surviving legitimate 
spouse shall continue to receive such retirements benefits during hidher lifetime or until 
helshe remarries. 
SEC. 2. Funds for the initial implementation of this Act shall be taken out of the 
current appropriations for the retirement benefits of the Chairman and the 
Commissioners of the Constitutional Commissions as well as the Ombudsman and/or 
savings of said Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman. Thereafter, such 
sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation hereof shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect after thirty (30) days following the completion of 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,