MANILA – A bill that aims to allow members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to designate a beneficiary of their choice has been filed in the House of Representatives.
Penned by Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, House Bill (HB) No. 9792 or “An Act Amending Presidential Decree No. 1146 as amended by Republic Act (RA) No. 8291 or the Government Service System Insurance Act of 1997” seeks to give GSIS members the right to pick their beneficiary in the absence of primary and secondary beneficiaries.
Under RA No. 8291, when a GSIS member dies, the survivorship benefits shall only be entitled to primary and secondary beneficiaries.
Primary beneficiaries include the surviving legal spouse and dependent children, whereas secondary beneficiaries include dependent parents and legitimate descendants, subject to the restrictions on dependent children.
In a statement on Monday, Feb. 5, Adiong said that his bill seeks to recognize single government employees who are unable to start their own family because of their devotion to public service.
“Mayroon silang mga mahal sa buhay na umaasa sa kanilang ibinibigay na tulong pinansyal at suporta para sa kanilang pang araw-araw na pangangailangan,” the lawmaker said.
(They have loved ones who depend on their financial assistance and support for their daily needs.)
“Sila ang tumatayong breadwinners, hindi lamang sa kanilang immediate family, kundi pati na rin sa kanilang extended relatives,” he added.
(They are the breadwinners, not only for their immediate family, but also for their extended relatives.)
HB No. 9792 seeks to expand the definition of secondary beneficiaries of the GSIS Law under Social Security Act of 2018 Republic Act 11199, Section 8 (k), by including “any other person designated by a member shall be his/her secondary beneficiary”.
While the bill eyes the improvement of GSIS member-centric accommodations, Adiong stressed that it will ultimately empower members to select the people they value the most as beneficiaries.
The bill is up for first reading.
