• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod has asked the Senate to amend the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Act of 1997, so that elected officials who are non-career GSIS members can pay voluntary contribution to complete the minimum 15-year requirement in the payment of premiums.
“Providing an option for non-career GSIS members to pay voluntary contributions to meet the minimum 15-year requirement in premium payments would not only promote fairness but also encourage public service among individuals, who may be deterred by the current limitations,” the SP said in approving the resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang.
This amendment would help secure the financial future of non-career elected officials after their terms, and reinforce the commitment of these individuals to serving their constituents with the knowledge that their service will be recognized and supported by a fair retirement system, Ang added.
The resolution, co-authored by councilors Caesar Distrito and Bobby Rojas, took note of House Bill 10733, which provides an option for qualified members in the non-career service to pay voluntary contribution to the GSIS to avail of the retirement and other applicable benefits.
The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on third reading in the 19th Congress Aug. 28, 2024 but only reached the committee level in the Senate, as of Sept. 25 last year.
Elected officials often serve in a non-career capacity, making them ineligible for certain benefits that career government employees receive under the current GSIS law, the SP said, adding “the lack of options…to complete the minimum requirement for premium payments compromises their ability to access retirement and other related benefits, creating a significant disparity within the public service sector.”
“It is in the best interest of democracy and good governance to ensure that all elected officials, regardless of their career status, have equitable access to retirement benefits that acknowledge their service to the public,” the resolution stressed. | CGC
