THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) mandates every government agency to release the employees’ retirement benefits on time.
The commission recently issued the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10154 known as an act requiring all concerned government agencies to ensure the early release of the retirement pay, pensions, gratuities and other benefits of retiring government workers.
Based on the IRR, retiring public servants must not be made to wait for they have spent the best years of their lives serving the public and the government and the state must ensure the prompt release of their retirement benefits which are due them under the law.
The IRR cites the responsibilities of retiring government employees, employer-agencies and government agencies, the period of release of retirement benefits and other relevant provisions, shall apply to compulsory and optional retirement applications of government employees from all government instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporations, except personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The guidelines state that period for release of retirement benefits must be within 30 days from the actual retirement date of the concerned employee. The employer-agency or the government agency where the employee shall retire must submit all requirements at least 90 days prior to the effectivity date of retirement. Retirement benefits under the Government Service Insurance Act must be released to retirees on his/her last day of service in government provided that all Government Service Insurance System requirements are duly complied with.
Retirement benefits may be withheld if the employee has been suspended due to pending administrative case or has pecuniary liabilities.
The public may inquire to any CSC offices for the full text and other pertinent details of the IRR of RA No. 10154. (Rubyloida Bitog)