Lowering of retirement, senior citizen age to 56 sought

A party-list lawmaker is pushing to lower the optional retirement and senior citizenship age in the country from 60 to 56 years.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. filed House Bill 86, seeking to adjust the minimum retirement age in both public and private sectors, to enable retirees to enjoy a better quality of life through their pension and retirement benefits at an earlier age.

“VAT (value-added tax) exemptions, mandatory membership in the government’s health-care system and discounts for medicine, basic necessities and service will all come earlier, reducing the physical toll on our citizens to keep working just to reach the retirement age and avail themselves of the benefits of being…senior citizens,” the lawmaker explained.

The proposed measure seeks to amend section 13-A of Republic Act 8291, or the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997, which set the optional retirement age for government workers at 60 and the mandatory retirement age at 65.

Garbin said the lower retirement age would likewise help the bureaucracy, as it hastens the turnover of government positions to younger professionals, making way for the infusion of fresh blood in public services.

“Countless cases involving public officers emphasize the need of a younger workforce in the government, to inject new perspectives and insight into the government’s ranks,” he pointed out.

He said the same principle applies to the private sector, as the proposed measure would create more employment opportunities for those seeking employment in the government and a chance to serve the country.

“This bodes well for the families of our retirees as well, as our retirees have more time to spend with their loved ones in relative comfort. Our retirees and their families will enjoy the fruits of decades’ worth of labor and will lessen the burden on the family’s spending,” Garbin added.

He cited for instance the police and military services where the retirement age is 56 or once they reach 30 years of service.

At present, the retirement age for private employees is 60, while government workers have until 65 for mandatory retirement.

In conjunction with this proposed measure, Garbin filed a separate bill seeking to lower the age of senior citizens to 56.

The bill seeks to amend RA 7432, also known as the Senior Citizens law, which currently sets the age of senior citizenship at 60.

Garbin said the measure seeks to give employees the necessary benefits and privileges at the age when most “ailments and other physical limitations” are experienced the most.

The House is set to tackle the proposed measure when it resumes session next month.