Philippine Councilors League
ADVOCACY CENTER
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
LATEST UPDATES FOR THE 2014 CEBU NEO-NB QUARTERLY MEETING
IMPLEMENTED ADVOCACY
R.A. 10156 “ AN ACT CONFERRING UPON MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIAN THE
APPROPRIATE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

After a successful and strong lobby at the Senate and the House of Representatives by
the National Officers of the PCL combined with a focus attention of the Advocacy
Center, R.A. 10156 entitled “ AN ACT CONFERRING UPON MEMBERS OF THE
SANGGUNIANG BAYAN, SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD AND SANGGUNIANG
PANLALAWIGAN, THE APPROPRIATE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES” has been officially signed by the
President on December 20, 2011.
 It was only on March 8, 2013 that the IRR was finally promulgated thru CSC Resolution
No. 1300486 entitled “ Implenting Rules and Regulations of RA NO. 10156 ( An Act
Conferring Upon Members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Appropriate Civil Service Eligibility Under Certain
Circumstances, and for Other Purposes”
 Visit the home page of the Civil Service Commission for the Frequently
Asked Questions on Eligibility and to download applicable forms.
ON-GOING ADVOCACY
ADVOCACY ON GSIS CONTINUED PREMIUM DISTRIBUTION
CURRENT STATUS:
The Omnibus Amendments to the GSIS Law is now in the Technical Working Group ( TWG ) of
the Committee of Government Enterprises and Privatization chaired by Cong. Jesus Sacdalan
of the 1st District of North Cotabato. Cong. Rufus Rodriquez of Cagayan City, a Committee
member of the 15th Congress, successfully provided Sec. 4 of the Omnibus Bill that states “
Effect of Separation from the Service, ‘ A MEMBER MAY OPT TO CONTINUE THE PAYMENT OF
THE NECESSARY CONTRIBUTION IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THE GSIS BENEFITS’.
A wrap up of the TWG Report to the Committee is scheduled in July, 2014.
BACKGROUND
•
On November 25, 2010, the GSIS thru their Law Office, wrote PCL a letter signed by
Atty. Estella Elamparo, Chief Legal Counsel, as a response to the PCL National Board
Resolution s 2010 requesting GSIS to allow Councilors/elective officials to continue
paying their premium contribution even after their term ends to avail retirement
benefits after 15 years of contribution payments, invoking the GSIS Charter provision.
•
GSIS Charter, RA 8291, provides that separation from the government service
terminates active membership from the GSIS and hence, a continued membership
contribution is no longer allowed. Once an elective official no longer holds office has
ceased to serve the Government, he no longer enjoys the full benefits of members.
•
Fortunately, both houses of Congress is currently deliberating on an Omnibus
Amendments to the GSIS law. In the Senate, Committee Report No. 41 was
deliberated in the Plenary on October, 2011 attended by Couns. Suntay, Corro, Borja
and others wherein a substitute Bill No. 2854 was for further refinement. In the House,
individual GSIS amendments were filed and consolidated and discussed in a Committee
Meeting.
•
It is worthy to note that we have a champion in the House in the person of Cong. San
Luis who Introduced HBN 3785 “ AN ACT IMPROVING THE WELFARE BENEFITS FOR
THE MEMBERS OF THE GSIS, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PD NO. 1146, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED GSIS ACT OF 1977” of which Sec. 4.
Effect of Separation from the Service provides that “ AFTER SEPARATION FROM THE
SERVICE, A MEMBER MAY OPT TO CONTINUE THE PAYMENT OF THE NECESSARY
CONTRIBUTIONS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THE GSIS BENEFITS”. This was
strongly supported by Cong. Rufus Rodriquez, a Committee member.
•
DOJ opined that a remedy maybe availed of by using RA 7699 or the Portability Law
wherein a former elective official may voluntarily contribute this time in the SSS
System, either as an employee or a self-employed individual and the SSS will now add
his total contribution so that he/she can enjoy social security benefits under the SSS law.
Finally DOJ concluded that whether it is wise to broaden GSIS coverage by opening up
even to non-government employees, it is a question better addressed in Congress
given the plenary powers it enjoys.
•
Committee Report No. 2688 on HB No. 6904 entitled “ An Act Further Strengthening
the GSIS”dated February 5, 2013 carries the following provisions:
Sec. 5 Optional Membership- The following shall be given the option to continue their
membership in the GSIS even beyond the mandatory retirement age of 65:
a) An official elected to public office before age 65 but who will reach the mandatory
retirement age of 65 during his/her term. The elective official shall be allowed to continue
paying life and retirement premiums until the end of his/her term including any period of
election or election to another public office provided, that such period/s of re-election are
continous.
STEP INCREMENT FOR ELECTIVE OFFICIALS
CURRENT STATUS:
The draft Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), after undergoing the first series
of review by the CSC Commissioners, is now back with the originating Office, the
Human Resource Policies and Standard Office ( HRPSO ) to draft the first revision
incorporating the comments of the Commissioners after legal research and will transmit
the revised draft to the Commissioners Secretariat ( ComSec ) for the final review of the
Commissioners.
Some Comments to be Resolved:
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If an elective local official finishes his/her 3rd term and re-elected to the same
position after 3 years, will he/she be entitled to step 8 or go back to step 1,
The members of the House of Representatives wanted a Step 4 on their first
term and Step 8 on the second term just like the Senators even if they have
different term in Office.
Date of Effectivity. CSC proposes a pro-active effect while PCL proposed a
retro-active effect, January 2010 as stated in the JOINT CONGRESS
RESOLUTION No. 4 of 2009.
Although it is stated in the Saving Clause of the Joint Circular of CSC and DBM that
any issues that may arise in the course of Implementation, this will be jointly settled by
CSC and DBM, both Departments agree to include in the IRR any probable issues.
CSC Chair Duque wanted to have the IRR finished on or before the end of the 2nd
Quarter since this has been already long overdue considering that their original target
date of completion was December 1013.
BACKGROUND
A policy on the rules and regulations on the grant of step increment/s due to meritorious
performance and step increment due to length of service was issued through the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Joint
Circular No. 1, s. 2012 dated September 3, 2012.
In Item 4 of said circular, elective officials were excluded from the coverage thereof.
However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its Opinion No. 38, s. 2012 concluded that they
are covered and entitled to the step increment pursuant to R.A. 6758, Joint Congress
Resolution No. 4 of 2009 and other relevant laws. The grant of step increment for elective
officials shall be based solely on length of service because of their term of office. They shall
enjoy this benefit as a form of reward for being re-elected on the same elective position.
1.0 Draft CSC and DBM Circular on the Rules and Regulations on the Grant of
Increments Due to Length of Service for Elective Officials
Step
On September 25, 2013, PCL received the above draft Joint Circular to prescribe the
rules and regulations on the grant of Step Increments Due to Length of Service for
elective officials. The Draft was the product of series of inter-agency consultations
participated by PCL.
Highlights

Coverage
The Joint Circular applies to all incumbents of elective positions in the national
and local government occupying the same position after series of elections.

Grant of Step Increments Due to Length of Service
Step increments due to length of service shall be granted to electivofficials based
on the following conditions:
For Senators, Steps 1 and 8 shall apply. Step 1 shall be granted on the first
term and Step 8 shall be enjoyed whenever he/she is re-elected.
For Other Elective Officials, as mentioned on Item 3.2 (Coverage), Steps 1, 4
and 8 shall apply. Step 1 shall be granted on the first term, Step 4 on the second
term upon re-election and Step 8 on the third term, if re-elected.
An elective
Step 1.

official
re-elected to a new elective position
start from
Adjustment of Salaries
The salary of the re-elected official shall be adjusted automaticall upon
assumption to duty.

Fund Sources
For LGUs, the step increment shall be charged against respective government
funds not exceeding the budgetary limitation on personal services provided under
applicable laws or rules and regulations.

Saving Clause
Issues and concerns that may arise in the implementation of the Joint Circular
shall be resolved jointly by the CSC and DBM.
FOR PCL INPUT/COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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DRAFT REVISED GUIDELINES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, MERGING,
CONVERSION, ANDNAMING/RENAMING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SEPARATION
OF SCHOOL ANNEXES IN BASIC EDUCATION (DepEd )
HB 283 * AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF BONA FIDE CIVIL
SOCEITY ORGANIZATION (CSOs) BUDGET HEARINGS AND DELIBERATIONS IN
CONGREES IN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES (NGAs) AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)”
ANTI –SIGNAGE OF PUBLICT WORKS ACT
SB No. 54 by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago
“ An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit through Signage Announcing a
Public Works Project”
SB No. 12 by Senator Frances G. Escudero
“ An Act Declaring Unlawful any Government Projects to be Named or Identified After
Government Officials and Other Persons whose Name or Identity May in Any Manner Be
Associated With Said Officials”
HB No. 1297 by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
‘ An Act Prohibiting Public Officers from Claiming Credit Through Signage Announcing A
Public Works Project”

SB NO. 1092 BY SENATOR GRACE POE
“ AN ACT TO ENHANCE CITIZENS’ ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
AND SERVICES BY ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM IN WHICH GOVERNMENT
DOCUMENTS ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC MUST BE WRITTEN CLEARLY, ORDAINING
FOR THE PURPOSE A PLAIN WRITING FOR PHILIPPINE PUBLIC SERVICE ACT
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”