THE House of Representatives has transmitted to the Senate the proposed Government Employees’ Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2008, which requires all government offices and agencies to prepare post-service entrepreneurial development programs for their retired and retiring employees.

House Bill 3825, or the Government Employees’ Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2008, is “An Act Providing for the Development of Entrepreneurship Skills among Government Employees for an Innovation-inspired Corps of Civil Servants and a Productive Post-service Citizenry.”

Speaker Prospero Nograles said the bill seeks to promote a healthy and productive life for retired and retiring government employees.

He noted the vast possibilities for retirees to further discover, evaluate and exploit ideas and business opportunities, which may be translated into productive ventures.

“The final approval of HB 3825 underlines the state policy to enhance the human and intellectual capital of the government to ensure a healthy and productive life for government employees after their retirement from public service,” he said.

Majority Leader Arthur Defensor, one of the authors of the bill, said the measure will open opportunities for retirees in healthy physical state to continue their productive lives even outside government service. He said that the proposed law is a window for government retirees to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors and contribute in making the Philippines a “nation of employers” and not a nation of job seekers.

The bill requires all government offices and agencies to prepare post-service entrepreneurial development programs for their employees based on guidelines prescribed by the Civil Service Commission.

It mandates all agency heads to link up with existing government financial institutions to provide sources of financing for their projects and promote the organization of cooperatives to increase their chances of success.

“We must institutionalize the establishment of cooperatives and savings and loan associations in their respective offices as an outlet for entrepreneurial skills in order to generate financial resources for these employees,” the legislator said.

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Bill calls for postservice entrepreneurial-development programs

THE House of Representatives has transmitted to the Senate the proposed Government Employees’ Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2008, which requires all government offices and agencies to prepare post-service entrepreneurial development programs for their retired and retiring employees.