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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson files bill allowing voluntary GSIS membership for state workers

Lacson files bill allowing voluntary GSIS membership for state workers

Published Jul 4, 2025 03:48 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson noted that the current GSIS law allows retirement packages for government workers who served for at least 15 years, while many individuals leave government service before meeting the minimum years of service for benefits. These individuals, then, have no retirement safety net.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has filed a bill that would allow public servants who have served for at least nine (9) years in government a chance to qualify for the retirement packages of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The bill, entitled “An Act Providing for Voluntary Membership in the GSIS, Amending for the Purpose RA 8291 Otherwise Known as the GSIS Act of 1997,” seeks to allow voluntary membership to members who have at least rendered at least nine years of service in the government and to allow them to continue paying their remaining contributions needed for entitlement to GSIS retirement packages.
“Allowing voluntary contributions in GSIS will, likewise, align its policy with that of the Social Security System (SSS), thus ensuring fairness and consistency across public and private sectors, especially for those who have moved between the two,” Lacson said in the explanatory note of the bill.
The current GSIS law allows retirement packages for government workers who served for at least 15 years. But Lacson noted many individuals leave government service before meeting the minimum years of service for benefits.
Because of this, he said these individuals are left with little or no protection, effectively excluding them from the retirement safety net.”
Enacting this proposed measure will allow for more flexible participation in social security through broader coverage for Filipinos who have served in government, he explained.
Under the bill, a sub-section to Sec. 3 of RA 8291 is being added to allow voluntary membership, where any GSIS member who rendered at least nine years of service in government may opt to continue paying for the remaining contributions needed for entitlement to full benefits under this act; provided that the entire amount of the remaining monthly contributions by both the government and the employee shall be entirely borne by the member.
The bill also amends Sec. 2 Section 4 of RA 8291, where a member separated from the service shall remain entitled to benefits he is qualified to in the event of any contingency - without prejudice to the right of the said member to opt for voluntary membership to the GSIS.
Any member who retires from the service shall be entitled to retirement benefits if he has rendered at least 15 years of service, or has completed the contributions equivalent to 15 years as a voluntary member of the GSIS, according to the senator.

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Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ping lacson government employees
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