Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Sunday, February 5, urged the Senate to expedite the passage of the bills that seek to lower the optional retirement age of government workers from 60 to 56 years old.
Revilla made the call following the recent passage of House Bill No. 206 on third and final reading, calling it a “welcome development.”
“As the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, I have always been steadfast in my commitment to not only protect the rights of our hardworking and diligent civil servants, but ensure that their welfare are always upheld and promoted,” Revilla said.
“I, thus, support any and all measures aimed at giving our dear civil servants more protective measures as well as benefits whose lasting impact will transcend not only them as individuals, but the community as a whole,” he added.
In the Senate, there are at least two similar measures that were filed by Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate Bill Nos. 935, and 944, respectively.
Sen. Sonny Angara, on the other hand filed Senate Bill No. 908, which seeks to lower the optional retirement age of public school teachers from 60 years old to 55 years old.
“I filed a similar measure in the Senate last February 2, 2023 after a careful study of the effects and the benefits we will reap from the measure once legislated. I have been pushing for this valuable piece of legislation not only this Congress but even during the 18th Congress,” Revilla said.
“We have come to know that the slow-moving turn-over in government offices usually emanates from the fact that only very few are able to avail of the optional retirement age,” he said.
Revilla said passage of the measure into law will not only allow the country’s earnest civil servants an option to retire early and enjoy the fruits of their labor, but also pave the way for new and younger civil servants to participate in the delivery of efficient and effective public services.
“Tumatakbo ang oras, at kayamanang maituturing na maigugol ito kasama ang pamilya at mahal sa buhay. Kasangga ako ng mga kababayan nating itulak ang panukalang-batas na ito na naglalayong suklian ang dekada nilang serbisyo sa bayan (Time flies, and it is a treasure to be able to spend it with family and loved ones. I am with our compatriots in pushing this bill that aims to repay their decades of service to the people),” he stressed.