REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4812

House Bill No.

Introduced by Pangasinan 5® District Representative
HON. RAMON V. GUICO i

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines has produced well known athletes on different sports discipline be it in the
amateur and in the professional ranks. Having brought glory to the country, athletes rip the rewards
of success carrying national pride.

Encouraging the youth to engage into sports at their early stages of development creates better

ities of success in the future. It is where the State play an important role in honing not only
the skills of the youth but likewise inculcating patriotism and nationalism. The fervor that will bum
in their hearts will carry them to succeed in any competition whether locally or internationally which
will result in bringing glory to the country. Giving priority to our amateur athletes and homegrown
talents, it is the best possible way to ensure that they will showcase their skills and represent the
Philippines to the best of their abilities. Athletes should be given proper training during the early
stages of their development. It is the best opportune time for the youth to engage into a sporting
discipline that best fit their skills. It is the period where their talents and gifts should be properly
honed in order to be at par with international athletes.

‘Accordingly, Section 13 Article II of the Philippine Constitution provides that, “The State
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical,
moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and
nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.”

Further, Section 17, of Article Il of the Philippine Constitution provides that, “The State shall
give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.”

Succinetly, the progress of an amateur athlete depends on the program that will be introduced
by the State through a single governing body. It will mainly focus on youth and sports development
in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), different Local Government Units
(LGU’s), and International Organizations. The department to be created will be mandated to conduct,
continuous research to keep the Philippines in step with world class athletes. It will stand independent
and deviate itself from the delay of progress caused by different approving sporting bodies. As a
result, the development of youth athletes will reach higher bounds and create high hopes of success
on any future amateur sporting event.


This bill will likely address the common issues encountered by different sports related
‘governing bodies. The creation of the Youth and Sports Department will homogenize leadership and
unify the decision-making process. This bill is pro-active and will pursue grassroots development and
produce quality youth athletes.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. atl2

Introduced by Pangasinan 5® District Representative
HON. RAMON V. GUICO III

AN ACT CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE YOUTH AND SPORTS
DEPARTMENT, DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

SECTION 1. Short Title—This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Youth and Sports

Department Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes its responsibility to enable the youth
develop their wellbeing both in the field of education and in sports. In order to fulfill their vital role in
nation-building, the Philippine Youth and Sports Department is hereby created. Concomitant thereto,
this Act shall include the creation of the structures to implement the same and appropriate adequate funds
to provide support for the program and on a continuing basis.

Itis also declared that the State recognizes that youth is significant in the development of a person.
It is the critical stage of one’s development which likewise dictates their outcome in future as an adult.

The State further declares the department shall be guided by the following principles:
(@ Promote the physical, intellectual and moral being of the youth through sports;

(&) Instill in the youth the importance of patriotism and nationalism to the end that service to
the country is imperative;

(©) Promoting sports during the youth’s early stage to provide room for improvement and
development and produce quality athletes in the future.

(@ Encourage the youth in their involvement in sports and grant them benefits such as
training and scholarship education of their school of choice.; and


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€. Utilize the skills and talent of the youth in representing the country on different sports events while
ensuring that their training will keep them at par with other countries all over the world.

f. Promotion of enthusiasm among the youth in the field of sports to make their training and education
worthwhile.

SEC. 3. Creation of the Philippine Youth and Sports Department. - To carry out the above policy,
a department known as the Philippine Youth and Sports Department, hereinafter referred to as the
Department, is hereby created and established.

SEC. 4. Nature of the Department. - The Department shall have a seal, may sue and be sued, and
shall be the sole policy-making and coordinating body of all youth amateur sports development programs
and institutions in the Philippines: Provided, That, in the case of the school sports development program,
the same shall be formulated and implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) with the
assistance of the Department within the framework of the national sports development program.

SEC. 5. Objectives of the Department. — The Objectives of the Department are:

(a) To provide the leadership, formulate the policies and set the priorities and direction of all
youth sports promotion and development, particularly giving emphasis on grass-roots
participation;

(b) To encourage wide participation of all sectors, government and private, in youth sports
promotion and development; and

(©) To supplement government appropriations for youth sports promotion and development.
SEC. 6. Functions of the Department. — The Department shall have the following functions:

(@) Plan, implement and oversee an integrated youth sports promotion and development program
for the country in coordination with various sectors involved in sports, including among others,
the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, the public and private
schools, the local governments, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other sports
organizations;

(b) Establish and maintain harmonious relationship with accredited sports associations whether
local or international, national sports commissions or organizations of other countries, and
international nongovernmental organizations whose main objective is to promote amateur sports;

(©) Establish, develop and maintain fully-equipped sports facilities in strategic places in the
country adequate for training and hosting of major international competitions;

(@) Regulate publicly-funded sports complexes and assist in its management and maintenance
which includes supervision;

(©) Plan and formulate programs and review or evaluate, from time to time, the organizational
structure, programs and structure of the Department;


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(® Develop and promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Act, including rules to
delineate and define areas of responsibilities of all sectors involved in youth sports development;

(g) Provide such incentives, recognition and awards to deserving associations, athletes, referees,
game officials, coaches, trainers and other persons or entities involved in or supporting sports
development as may be permissible under the rules of amateurism;

(h) Provide annual training and seminars for youth athletes, coaches, and trainers or entities
involved in or supporting sports development;

(i) Recommend and propose to the Department of Education, other government agencies and
instrumentalities having sports programs, to incorporate in their respective annual budgets, a
separate and specific budget for youth sports promotion and development;

@ Conduct basic research on youth sports development;

(k) Conduct promotion and fund-raising campaigns in accordance with existing laws to achieve
the purposes of the Department;

(@) Encourage, promote and sustain the creation and establishment of regional, provincial,
municipal and barangay or school district youth sports promotion and development councils,
composed of officials of the Department of Education (DepEd), local government officials, and
representatives of the private sector, which shall initiate, conduct and coordinate sports activities
in their respective jurisdictions; and

(m) Exercise such other acts as are incident to or are appropriate and necessary in connection
with the creation of the Department.

SEC. 7. Composition of the Department. ~ The Department shall be composed of a Secretary of
Sports who shall be appointed by the President and three (3) Undersecretaries, and three (3) Assistant
Secretaries who shall be also be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary.

SEC. 8. Qualifications of the Secretary and the Undersecretaries and the Assistant Secretaries.
~The Secretary, Undersecretary and Assistant Secretaries must be Filipino Citizens, at least Thirty-Five
(35) years of age, must have been a former athlete representing the Philippines in any sporting event, of
proven good moral character and probity.

SEC. 9. Salaries of the Secretary and the Undersecretaries and the Assistant Secretaries. — The
Chairman shall receive an annual compensation and shall be entitled to other benefits and privileges
provided under existing laws.

SEC. 10. Powers of the Department. - The Department has the power to do all acts and things
necessary to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions, including:

(@) To appoint the officers and other personnel of the Department and fix their compensation
subject to existing laws, rules and regulations;

(b) To delegate authority for the performance of any function to officers and employees under its
direction;


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(©) To enter into contracts;

(@ To acquire, use and control any land, building, facilities, equipment, instruments, tools and
rights required or otherwise necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes of the Department;

(©) To acquire, own, possess and dispose of any real or personal property;
(f) To regulate the acquisition, procurement, distribution and use of sportswear, equipment,
instruments, tools and other sports necessities necessary and required for training of a national
pool of athletes;

(hy To confer, extend and grant awards, benefits and privileges to athletes, coaches, trainers and
officials for outstanding performances in national and international competitions;

(i) To confer, extend and grant support or assistance to sports associations which are in good
standing with the Department;

@ To exercise supervisory and visitorial powers over the national sports associations in
connection with their sports promotion and development programs with respect to which
financial assistance is extended by the Department;

(&) To accept donations, gifts, bequests, and grants for the purposes of the Department;

() To ensure the implementation by various government departments and agencies of their sports
promotion and development programs as indicated in their respective annual budgets;

(m) To impose sanctions upon any national sports association, institution, association, body,
entity, team, athlete and sports official for violation of its policies, rules and regulations; and

(a) To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its creation.

SEC. 11. Organizational Framework. — The organizational framework shall be prescribed and

approved by the Secretary. The positions shall be filled by regular appointment by the President or the
‘Secretary as the case may be.

SEC. 12. Creation of Different Divisions and offices within the Departmental Framework.- In

order to highlight the different duties that needs to be performed by the Department, in line with its
mandate of developing youth athletes, the following divisions shall herein be created, to wit:

(a) Local Government Youth Development Division;
(b) Regional Sports Development Division;

(©) International Sports Coordination Division;

(@ Amateur Youth Athletes Research Division;

SEC. 13. Local Government Youth Development Division. - The division shall have the

following functions:


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(a) Plan and implement measures in exploring qualified youth athletes within the local
government;

(b) Screen prospect youth athletes and determine their capacity to endure rigid training for their
‘own development and improvement;

(©) Encourage youth athletes to participate in training to be conducted by the Department after a
proper selection process;

(@ Maintain the health of the athletes by regular checkups and ensuring their balance diet
annually;

(©) Promote activities in schools within the territorial jurisdiction of the local governments which
encourages participation of the youth to compete in different sports;

(© Coordinate with different schools in the adoption of policies and programs necessary for the
improvement of sports;

SEC. 14. Regional Sports Development Division. — The division shall have the following
functions:

(@) Conduct annual regional sports competitions to promote the different disciplines in sports;

(6) Promote on a regional basis different sports and identify talented youth athletes for the
inclusion in the national training;

(©) Conduct regular assessment of the youth athletes to keep their physical and emotional goals
in line with the national policy of the Department.

SEC. 15. International Sports Coordination Division. — The division shall have the following
functions:

(a) Develop a training program that will adopt to the changing needs of the athletes on a yearly
basis to keep the youth athletes in step with the international competitions.

(b) Coordinate with the different sports associations to conduct further studies on new methods
of training internationally acceptable;

(©) Plan, implement and administer training programs to ensure success of the youth athletes on
different sporting events.

(@) Communicate with different international sports associations which promotes sporting events.

SEC. 16. Amateur Youth Athletes Research Division. — The division shall have the following
functions:

Undertake researches, and studies on matters relating to the youth athlete’s development;

(a) Prepare annual report to the Secretary;


(b) Compile data inputs and output of the Division including those from the Regional and
International Division;

SEC. 17. Tax Exemption on the Use of Sports Facilities. — To encourage popular participation
in amateur sports, no tax of any kind shall be levied on the use of sports facilities, whether the tax be on
the user, owner or operator of the sports facility.

SEC. 18. Tax Deduction or Exemption of Donations and Contributions. — All donations and
contributions to the Department in relation to the continuing sports development programs shall be
exempt from the donor's taxes, and shall be deductible in full in the computation of the taxable net income
of the donor.

SEC. 19. Sports Delegations. - The Department and its authorized delegation any international
sports convention, conference and meeting shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and other
related taxes. The same shall apply to the athletes, coaches, trainers, and other officials to any
international sports competition authorized by the Department.

SEC. 20. Sports Facilities. — All existing sports facilities owned by the national government shall
be transferred to the Department’s supervision and control. It shall include the land, buildings, and
equipment attached thereto. Provided, That the sports facilities owned by the local government units,
state colleges and universities, or public schools shall remain with the said institutions or entities.

SEC. 21. Funding. — In order to provide the necessary funds required for the organizational and
initial calendar year of operational expenditures of the Department the amount of One Hundred Million
Pesos (P100,000,000.00) from the National Treasury is hereby appropriated. Provided, That operating
expenses for the Department shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the annual appropriation and that
at least eighty percent (80%) of said annual appropriation and all of the national sports development
funds, as hereinafter provided, shall be disbursed for the national youth sports program, particularly in
support of the identification, recruitment and training of athletes in pre-regional, regional, national and
international competitions.

SEC. 22. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 23. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of other provisions hereof.

SEC. 24. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days after its publication in
‘a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,