Ping Lacson Bill Provides for Voluntary Membership in GSIS

Public servants who have served for at least nine years may soon have a chance to qualify for the retirement packages of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), if a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson becomes law.

Through such voluntary membership in the GSIS, they can continue paying their remaining contributions to be eligible for the GSIS retirement packages, which require at least 15 years in government service.

“(I)t is the aim of this proposed measure to allow voluntary membership to members who have rendered at least nine (9) years of service in the government, and to allow them to continue paying for the remaining contributions needed for entitlement to GSIS retirement packages,” Lacson said in Senate Bill 37, “An Act Providing for Voluntary Membership in the GSIS, Amending for the Purpose RA 8291 Otherwise Known as the GSIS Act of 1997.”

“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,” he added.

In Filipino: Voluntary Membership in GSIS, Posible sa Panukala ni Ping Lacson

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Lacson noted that while the current GSIS law allows retirement packages for government workers who served for at least 15 years, many individuals leave government service before meeting the minimum years of service for benefits.

Such individuals “are left with little or no protection, effectively excluding them from the retirement safety net,” he said.

“Enacting this proposed measure will allow for more flexible participation in social security through broader coverage for Filipinos who have served in government,” he said.

Lacson’s bill adds a sub-section to Sec. 3 of RA 8291, allowing 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.

A 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.

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Voluntary Membership in GSIS, Posible sa Panukala ni Ping Lacson

Ang mga kawani ng gobyerno na nagsilbi ng hindi bababa sa siyam na taon ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataong maging kwalipikado sa mga retirement package ng Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), kung magiging batas ang panukala ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

Sa pamamagitan ng voluntary membership sa GSIS, maaari silang patuloy na magbayad ng natitirang kontribusyon para maging eligible sa GSIS retirement packages, kung saan kailangan ang hindi bababa sa 15 taon sa gobyerno.

“(I)t is the aim of this proposed measure to allow voluntary membership to members who have rendered at least nine (9) years of service in the government, and to allow them to continue paying for the remaining contributions needed for entitlement to GSIS retirement packages,” ani Lacson sa Senate Bill 37, “An Act Providing for Voluntary Membership in the GSIS, Amending for the Purpose RA 8291 Otherwise Known as the GSIS Act of 1997.”

“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,” dagdag niya.

Ipinunto ni Lacson na sa kasalukuyang batas, ang GSIS retirement package ay para sa mga nagsilbi sa gobyerno ng 15 taon pataas. Nguni’t marami ang umalis sa gobyerno bago umabot ng 15 taon.

Dahil dito, ang mga nasa ganitong sitwasyon ay halos walang proteksyon at hindi kasali sa “retirement safety net” ng gobyerno.

“Enacting this proposed measure will allow for more flexible participation in social security through broader coverage for Filipinos who have served in government,” ani Lacson.

Sa panukala, magkakaroon ng sub-section ang Sec. 3 ng RA 8291, na pinapayagan ang voluntary membership kung saan ang GSIS member na may hindi bababa sa siyam na taon sa gobyerno ay maaaring magbigay ng boluntaryong kontribusyon para mag-qualify sa benepisyo ng GSIS.

Aamyendahan din ang Sec. 2 Section 4 ng RA 8291, kung saan ang myembrong nahiwalay sa serbisyo ay kwalipikado pa rin sa benepisyo kung may “contingency” – at may karapatan na magkaroon ng voluntary membership sa GSIS.

Samantala, ang GSIS member na nagretiro ay kwalipikado sa retirement benefits kung nakapagsilbi ng 15 taon, o nakumpleto ang kontribusyon para 15 taon bilang voluntary member ng GSIS.

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