HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio welcomed the approval of the House Committee on Government Entreprises of House Bill No. 207, a measure he co-authored with Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co, which seeks to lower the optional retirement age (LORA) of government workers—including public school teachers—from 60 to 56 years old by amending Section 13-A of Republic Act No. 8291 or the GSIS Act of 1997.
“The committee approval of HB 207 is an important step toward a more humane retirement policy for teachers and government workers who have devoted their lives to public service,” Tinio said. “This bill gives them a real choice to retire earlier at 56, after years of exhausting work that takes a toll physically, emotionally, and psychologically.”
Tinio stressed that the proposed measure answers a long-standing demand raised by teachers in consultations, as many teachers are forced to work until late in life despite illnesses and the heavy burdens of the job.
“Public school teachers often leave the profession not with satisfied smiles but with illnesses. Their retirement benefits end up going to medical bills instead of rest, family needs, or building a small livelihood,” Tinio said. “Lowering the optional retirement age is a matter of dignity and respect for their years of sacrifice.”
Citing the conditions of Philippine public schools, Tinio noted that teachers routinely face large class sizes, high pupil-teacher ratios, and workloads that go beyond official hours.
“Official instruction time is six hours, but in reality teachers work far beyond that because of advisory loads, paperwork, and duties even during supposed vacation months,” Tinio said. “It is harder to be a public school teacher in the Philippines than in most countries, yet our teachers retire later than many of their counterparts abroad.”
Tinio emphasized that the bill does not reduce the compulsory retirement age, but expands the option for earlier retirement, allowing those who are already worn down by decades of work to step back sooner if they choose.
“Hustisya at malasakit ang diwa ng panukalang ito,” Tinio said. “Hindi makatarungan na i-require ang isang guro na halos senior citizen na para ipagpatuloy pa ang mabigat at nakakapagod na trabaho, lalo na sa kalagayan ng ating mga pampublikong paaralan.”
“We are addressing concerns on sustainability while pursuing what is right for our teachers and government employees,” Tinio said. “We urge House leadership to fast-track HB 207 to plenary, and we call on the Senate to pass a counterpart measure so this can become law as soon as possible.”
“Karapat-dapat lang na mabigyan ng opsyon ang mga guro at kawani ng gobyerno na magretiro nang mas maaga para maranasan nila ang mas mahaba at mas malusog na panahon ng pahinga,” Tinio ended.
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