Report of Independent Auditors
21. EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH, WELFARE AND RETIREMENT FUND (a) Characteristics of the Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Plans
(i) The University, FECSI and EACCI
The University, FECSI and EACCI maintain tax-qualified, funded and contributory retirement plans, which fall under a defined contribution type of retirement plan, covering regular teaching and non-teaching personnel members. The University, FECSI and EACCI’s retirement plans were maintained since 1967, 2013 and 2017, respectively.
The respective retirement funds are under the administration of organizations, the FEU Health, Welfare and Retirement Fund, the FEU Cavite Health, Welfare and Retirement and Private Education Retirement Annuity Association (the Funds), through their respective Board of Governors.
Contributions to these funds are in accordance with the defined contribution established by the Retirement Board, which is the sum of the employees’ and the University, FECSI and EACCI’s contributions.
As a policy, any contributions made by the University, FECSI and EACCI in the past years that were subsequently forfeited resulting from resignations of covered employees prior to vesting of their retirement pay can be applied to reduce employer contributions in the succeeding years.
(ii) RCI, FRC, FEUAI and FEU High
RCI, FRC, FEUAI and FEU High have not yet established a formal post-
employment plan. However, they accrue the estimated cost of post-employment benefits, actuarially determined, required by the provisions of RA No. 7641. These companies have discretion when to fund the minimum post-employment benefits calculated, however upon retirement of qualified employees, funds must be readily available for payment of employees’ retirement benefits.
Retirement expense presented as part of Employee benefits under Other Operating Expenses in the consolidated statements of profit or loss amounted to P56.5 million, million, P71.6 million and P82.0 million for the years ended May 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively (see Note 19).
(b) Explanation of Amounts Disclosed in the Consolidated Financial Statements
Actuarial valuations are obtained: (i) to determine the higher of the defined benefit obligation relating to the minimum guarantee and the obligation arising from the defined contribution plan (for FEU, FECSI and EACCI); and, (ii) to update the retirement benefit costs for the others. All amounts presented below are based on the actuarial valuation reports obtained from an independent actuary for the years ended May 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 (for FEU, FECSI and RCI) and June 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019 (for EACCI).
The post-employment benefit obligation amounting to P47.0 million, P61.9 million and P47.3 million as of May 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, pertains to RCI, EACCI and FRC’s defined benefit liability, which is presented under
non-current liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position.
The movements in the present value of the post-employment benefit obligation recognized in the books are as follows:
2021 2020 2019
Balance at beginning of year P 61,917,618 P 47,313,579 P 46,138,632 Benefits paid ( 28,037,108) ( 2,072,257 ) ( 12,339,588 ) Current service cost 11,344,387 2,509,465 1,773,812
Interest expense 6,414,868 5,703,460 3,182,786
Remeasurements – actuarial (gain) losses arising from:
Experience adjustments ( 1,260,818) 1,099,145 4,562,562 Changes in financial
assumptions ( 3,368,759 ) 7,364,226 3,995,375 Balance at end of year P 47,010,188 P 61,917,618 P 47,313,579
The components of amounts recognized in profit or loss (as part of Employee benefits under Cost and Operating Expenses) and in other comprehensive income in respect of the post-employment defined benefit plan is shown below:
2021 2020 2019
Reported in profit or loss:
Current service cost P 11,344,387 P 2,509,465 P 1,773,812 Interest expense 6,414,868 5,703,460 3,182,786
P 17,759,255 P 8,212,925 P 4,956,598
Reported in other comprehensive income:
Actuarial gains (losses) from:
Changes in financial
assumptions P 3,368,759 (P 7,364,226 ) (P 3,995,375 ) Experience adjustments 1,260,818 ( 1,099,145 ) ( 4,562,562 )
P 4,629,577 (P 8,463,371 ) (P 8,557,937 )
In determining the amounts of post-employment obligation in accordance with PAS 19 (Revised), the following significant actuarial assumptions were used:
2021 2020 2019
FEU, FECSI and EACCI
Discount rates 4.46% - 4.94% 3.39% - 5.06% 5.63% - 7.27%
Salary growth rate 2.00% - 3.00% 3.00% - 5.00% 2.00% - 3.50%
RCI
Discount rates 4.78% 3.87% 5.71%
Salary growth rate 5.00% 5.00% 5.00%
Assumptions regarding future mortality experience are based on published statistics and mortality tables. The average remaining working lives of an individual retiring at the following ages are as follows:
FEU (at age 60) - 14 years both for males and females FECSI (at age 60) - 21 years both for males and females EACCI (at age 60) - 38 years both for males and females RCI (at age 60) - 14 years for males and 18 years for females
These assumptions were developed by management with the assistance of an independent actuary. Discount factor is determined close to the end of the reporting period by reference to the interest rates of a zero-coupon government bond with terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the post-employment obligation. Other assumptions are based on current actuarial benchmarks and management’s historical experience.
As discussed in Note 2.15, the defined contribution plans of FEU, FECSI and EACCI are also accounted for as a defined benefit plan with minimum guarantee starting in 2014 upon the University’s adoption of the PIC Interpretation on PAS 19 (Revised). However, considering that the present value of the obligation as determined by an independent actuary approximates the fair value of the plan assets, management opted not to recognize further the overfunding of the obligation for the years ended May 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, in consideration of the Group’s constructive obligation to pay a fixed amount of contribution to the fund.
An analysis of the defined benefit obligation of FEU, FECSI and EACCI following PIC Interpretation with respect to the defined benefit minimum guarantee under RA No. 7641 is presented below.
2021 2020 2019
Fair value of plan assets P 865,525,239 P 892,599,993 P 756,932,798 Present value of obligation ( 840,196,295) ( 842,784,116 ) ( 755,712,233) Excess of plan assets over
retirement obligation P 25,328,944 P 49,815,877 P 1,220,565
The movements in the fair value of plan assets are presented below.
2021 2020 2019
Balance at beginning
of year P 892,599,993 P 756,932,798 P 756,979,018 Actual contributions 86,614,040 96,844,479 75,278,883 Benefits paid ( 126,628,540) ( 55,520,750) ( 47,980,553 ) Interest income (expense) 12,640,409 41,639,607 ( 27,185,137)
Remeasurement gain 299,337 - -
Expected return - 52,703,859 ( 159,413 )
Balance at end of year P 865,525,239 P 892,599,993 P 756,932,798 The movements in the present value of the retirement benefit obligation are as follows:
2021 2020 2019
Balance at beginning
of year P 842,784,116 P 755,712,233 P 751,398,293 Benefits paid ( 70,960,945) ( 55,870,154) ( 47,980,553 ) Actuarial gain 64,879,816 58,709,543 13,169,173 Current service cost 44,935,337 41,569,069 26,025,489 Interest expense 26,685,417 42,663,425 39,438,177
Balance at end of year P 840,196,295 P 842,784,116 P 755,712,233 (c) Risks Associated with the Retirement Plan
The plan exposes the University, FECSI, RCI, and EACCI to actuarial risks such as investment risk, interest rate risk, longevity risk and salary risk.
(i) Investment and Interest Risks
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated using a discount rate determined by reference to market yields of government bonds. Generally, a decrease in the interest rate of a reference government bonds will increase the plan obligation. However, this will be partially offset by an increase in the return on the plan’s investments in debt securities and if the return on plan asset falls below this rate, it will create a deficit in the plan. Currently, the plan has relatively balanced investment in cash and cash equivalents, equity securities and debt securities. Due to the long-term nature of the plan obligation, a level of continuing equity
investments is an appropriate element of the Group’s long-term strategy to manage the plan efficiently.
Currently, the University’s plan is significantly composed of equity securities and debt securities. Due to the long-term nature of the plan obligation, a level of continuing equity investments is an appropriate element of the University’s long-term strategy to manage the plans efficiently. FECSI, on the other hand, has investments in cash and cash equivalents and loans.
(ii) Longevity and Salary Risks
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated by reference to the best estimate of the mortality of the plan participants both during and after their employment, and to their future salaries. Consequently, increases in the life expectancy and salary of the plan participants will result in an increase in the plan obligation.
(d) Other Information
The information on the sensitivity analysis for certain significant actuarial assumptions, the asset-liability matching strategy of the University, FECSI and EACCI, and the timing and uncertainty of future cash flows related to the retirement plan are described below and in the succeeding pages.
(i) Sensitivity Analysis
The table shown below summarizes the effects of changes in the significant
actuarial assumptions used in the determination of the defined benefit obligation as of:
Impact on Post-employment Benefit Obligation
Increase/ Increase/
Change in (Decrease) in (Decrease) in Assumption Assumption Assumption
May 31, 2021 RCI:
Discount rate +/-0.5% (P 1,635,842 ) P 1,787,573
Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 3,483,066 ( 2,989,382)
University:
Discount rate +/-0.5% (P 263,694 ) P 359,029 Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 804,328 ( 481,181) FECSI:
Discount rate +9.3%/11.1% (P 444,853 ) P 532,167 Salary growth rate +11.2%/-9.5% 537,443 ( 457,604 ) EACCI:
Discount rate +/- 0.5% (P 19,793 ) P 28,837 Salary growth rate +4%/- 7.0% 296,543 ( 11,947,593 )
May 31, 2020 RCI:
Discount rate +/-0.5% (P 2,227,124 ) P 2,417,190
Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 4,671,546 ( 4,055,783 )
University:
Discount rate +/-0.5% (P 402,278 ) P 566,798 Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 1,382,434 ( 730,879 ) FECSI:
Discount rate +/-1.0% (P 388,285 ) P 468,134 Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 478,443 ( 402,463 ) EACCI:
Discount rate +/- 0.5% (P 522,416 ) P 849,669 Salary growth rate +/- 7.0% 2,200,865 ( 26,872,389 )
Impact on Post-employment Benefit Obligation
Increase/ Increase/
Change in (Decrease) in (Decrease) in Assumption Assumption Assumption
May 31, 2019 RCI:
Discount rate +/-0.5% (P 1,767,052 ) P 1,645,369
Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 3,460,562 ( 3,041,321)
University:
Discount rate +/-0.5% (P 486,352 ) P 646,334 Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 1,322,191 ( 861,361) FECSI:
Discount rate +/-1.0% (P 367,333 ) P 442,623 Salary growth rate +/-1.0% 456,168 ( 383,387 )
The sensitivity analysis shown above is based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. This analysis may not be representative of the actual change in the defined benefit obligation as it is unlikely that the change in assumptions would occur in isolation of one another as some of the assumptions may be correlated. Furthermore, in presenting the above sensitivity analysis, the present value of the defined benefit obligation has been calculated using the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period, which is the same as that applied in calculating the defined benefit obligation recognized in the consolidated statements of financial position.
The methods and types of assumptions used in preparing the sensitivity analysis did not change compared to the previous years.
(ii) Asset-liability Matching Strategies
To efficiently manage the retirement plan, the University through its Retirement Board, ensures that the investment positions are managed in accordance with its asset-liability matching strategy to achieve that long-term investments are in line with the obligations under the retirement scheme. This strategy aims to match the plan assets to the retirement obligations by investing in long-term fixed interest securities (i.e., government or corporate bonds) with maturities that match the benefit payments as they fall due and in the appropriate currency. The University actively monitors how the duration and the expected yield of the investments are matching the expected cash outflows arising from the retirement obligations.
In view of this, investments are made in reasonably diversified portfolio, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets.
There has been no change in the University’s strategies to manage its risks from previous periods.
Currently, EACCI and FECSI have no specific matching strategy between the plan assets and the plan liabilities.