Manila: SSS-GSIS Pensyonado Party-list Representative Rolando Macasaet has introduced a bill aimed at reducing the minimum years of service required for government employees to qualify as pensioners under the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to 10 years.
According to Philippines News Agency, the current stipulations under Republic Act (RA) 8291, known as the GSIS Act of 1997, require individuals to have a minimum of 15 years of service, be at least 60 years old at retirement, and not be receiving a monthly disability pension to be eligible for retirement benefits. Macasaet emphasized the need to reassess these provisions, which have been in place for 28 years, to determine their relevance and accessibility in today’s context.
As of March 2025, GSIS encompasses 2,736,710 members and pensioners, with 2,100,257 active members and 636,453 old-age and survivorship pensioners. Macasaet highlighted that only a fraction of the active members is likely to meet the current 15-year service requirement to qualify for a retirement pension.
House Bill No. 3127 proposes to lower the mandatory service period to 10 years, aligning it with the Social Security System (SSS) requirement for private-sector employees. This amendment aims to make the retirement pension more accessible and equitable between the two primary pension systems in the country.
