President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure adjusting the monthly benefits of retirees of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Republic Act No. 121811, or the Adjusted DFA Retirement Benefits Act, applies to retired officers and employees of the DFA who are receiving a monthly pension from the the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and those who opted to retire under Republic Act No. 1616: Provided, That said retired officers and employees are Filipino citizens, who have reached 65 years of age, and served the DFA for at least 15 years at the time of their retirement.
The law stated that all other DFA officers and employees who have retired but have not met all the abovementioned qualifications shall be covered by applicable benefits under existing laws and regulations.
For the Monthly Pension Differential and Gratuity Benefit, the DFA retirees receiving a monthly pension from the GSIS shall receive a monthly pension differential (MPD).
According to the law, the MPD shall be the difference between the adjusted monthly pension computed by the DFA and the actual monthly pension provided by the GSIS to the DFA retiree, to be multiplied by the adjustment factor: Provided, That, upon the effectivity of this Act, the adjustment factor shall be equivalent to fifty percent (50%) which may be subject to review after five years of implementation.
The guidelines on the computation of the MPD shall be periodically reviewed by the DFA to ensure feasibility and sustainability.
The DFA shall also formulate guidelines on the distribution and release of the survivorship pension benefits provided under this Act to qualified dependents of the DFA retirees.
The funding requirements shall be charged against the applicable fees collected under Executive Order No. 906, series of 2010.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
