The Philippine Councilors League (PCL) is coming up with a resolution to ask Congress to craft a bill that would allow councilors who are no longer able to continue in government service to still contribute to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and be able to meet the minimum required contributions to be eligible for pension.
This was bared to The Bohol Tribune by PCL- Bohol president, Board Member Jescelo Adiong in an exclusive telephone interview on Friday, July 10, 2020.
Adiong said that to qualify for a pension, a government official or worker needs to have a minimum 15 years of contribution to the GSIS pension system.
However, councilors are allowed to run for public office up to three (3) consecutive terms only or a total of nine (9) years.
If a councilor fails to run for a higher office or stay in government service, the contribution count gets cut. While the councilors who are unable to continue can get their money back in a lump sum amount, it would be a better proposition for them to be able to continue contributing and be eligible for pension after reaching the
minimum number of years of contribution, Adiong explained.
“After the nine (9) years ug mo expire na ang imong tulo ka term, madiscontinue na ang contribution sa GSIS.” Adiong told The Bohol Tribune.
He said that the scheme is similar to the Social Security System (SSS) where a member who has been severed from employment in the private sector may be able to continue contributing to the pension fund via the so-called voluntary contribution scheme.
Adiong already talked to first district congressman Edgar Chatto to ask for the latter’s support on the matter.
He said that he also met with third district Congresswoman Kristine Alexie Tutor for the same purpose.
As of press time, Adiong has yet to talk with second district Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado about the matter.
Adiong said that the PCL resolution was endorsed to Sen. Richard Gordon and said, further, that the national officials of the PCL already made exploratory talks with the GSIS about this.
Adiong revealed that the GSIS is amendable to the idea of allowing former councilors to continue contributing to the pension fund even if they are no longer in government service.
Meanwhile, the PCL here in Bohol conducted a general assembly meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at JJ’s Seafood Village.
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Gov. Arthur Yap attended the PCL meeting and presented to the councilors the current status of the province.