The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill giving the option for a member of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the non-career service with less than 15 years of government service to pay voluntary contributions that would make them eligible for retirement benefits.
If passed into law, House Bill 10733 would amend Republic Act 8291 or the Government Service System Act of 1997.
The Administrative Code of 1987 states the non-career service will include elective officials; secretaries and other officials of Cabinet rank; chairman and members of commissions and boards with fixed terms of office; as well as the personal or confidential staff of these officials. Also included in the non-career service are contractual personnel and emergency and seasonal personnel.
Under the approved bill, GSIS members in the non-career service who have not reached at least 15 years of government service will be allowed to continue voluntary premium contributions to qualify for retirement and avail of other applicable benefits.
The House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization, chaired by Parañaque Rep. Edwin Olivarez, earlier said the mandated 15 years of government service to avail of the retirement benefits from the GSIS may not be met by most elected government officials since they have only three consecutive terms or a total of nine years to stay in office.
“It is only reasonable for these elected government officials who were not able to complete the 15-year requirement but were able to serve maximum terms of office to be given the option to make voluntary contributions to the GSIS for them to qualify for the monthly pension upon reaching the retirement age,” Olivarez said.
