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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ PROCLAMATION NO. 1020, September 10, 2025 ]

DECLARING THE SECOND WEEK OF SEPTEMBER OF EVERY YEAR AS THE "NATIONAL PENSIONERS' WEEK"

WHEREAS, Section 9, Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all;

WHEREAS, Section 4, Article XV of the Constitution provides that while the family has the duly to care for its elderly members, the State may also do so through just programs of social security;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11199 or the "Social Security Act of 2018" declares it a policy of the State to establish, develop, promote and perfect a sound and viable tax-exempt social security system suitable to the needs of the people throughout the Philippines which shall promote social justice through savings, and ensure meaningful social security protection to Social Security System (SSS) members and their beneficiaries against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden;

WHEREAS, Sections 13, 16, 20, and 22 of RA No, 8291 or the "Government Service Insurance Act of 1997" mandate the grant of retirement and permanent total disability benefits to compulsorily covered Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members, and the grant of survivorship benefits to the GSIS pensioner's qualified beneficiaries;

WHEREAS, one of the goals identified in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 is to have a transformative social protection system that helps Filipinos manage risks and addresses structural vulnerabilities and social inequities;

WHEREAS, one of the key pillars of the Administration's 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda is to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen social protections, among others;

WHEREAS, it is imperative to recognize SSS and GSIS pensioners for their valuable contribution to national development and raise awareness on social security protection as a critical development strategy to address vulnerabilities, social inequities, and the loss of income or financial burden brought about by old age, permanent total disability, death, and other contingencies; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all the executive departments, bureaus and offices and the mandate to ensure the faithful execution of laws;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and exiting laws, do hereby declare the second week of September of every year as the "National Pensioners' Week."

Consistent with their respective mandates, the SS and GSIS shall lead the observance and celebration of the National Pensioners' Week, and identify programs, activities, and projects for the annual celebration thereof.ℒαwρhi৷

All agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges, are hereby directed, and all local government units, non-government organizations, as well as the private sector, are hereby encouraged, to actively participate and render the necessary support and assistance to SSS and GSIS for the effective implementation of this Proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the President to be affixed.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 10th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Five.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS. JR.

By the President:

(Sgd.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Executive Secretary

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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