EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
*21 AUG-3 P5:07
SENATE
S. B. NO.S34G
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES TO NATIONAL 
ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND FOR 
SPORTS HEROES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The historic win of Hidiiyn Diaz at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo 
brought the Philippines its first-ever Olympic gold medal. But prior to this, 
she has consistently and continuously made the Philippines proud by being 
the youngest contender at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the age of 17, 
bringing home the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in 20 years at the 2016 
Rio Olympics, and the first gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games held in 
Indonesia, among other accolades.
At present, the Philippines has won 12 medals in the Olympics:
a. Hidiiyn Diaz (weightlifting) - Gold (2020 Tokyo), Silver (2016 Rio);
b. Nesthy Petecio (boxing) - Silver (2020 Tokyo)
c. Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco (boxing) - Silver (1996 Atlanta);
d. Roel Velasco (boxing) - Bronze (1992 Barcelona);
e. Leopoldo Serantes (boxing) - Bronze (1988 Seoul);
f. Anthony Villanueva (boxing) - Silver (1964 Tokyo);
g. Miguel White (athletics) - Bronze (1936 Berlin);
h. Jose Villanueva (boxing) - Bronze (1932 Los Angeles);
i. Simeon Toribio (athletics) - Bronze (1932 Los Angeles); and


j. Teodoro YIdefonso (swimming) - Bronze (1932 Los Angeles), 
Bronze (1928 Amsterdam).
Behind their achievements are innumerable stories of hard work and 
perseverance. This is no less true with other sports heroes in various 
disciplines of athletics, who have devoted their lives to honing their craft and 
bringing honor to the country.
Thus, to recognize outstanding athletes who serve as inspiration to 
countless Filipinos in the field of sports, this bill seeks to grant distinctive 
honors and privileges to Filipino sports heroes. The bill also seeks to 
establish the Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund, which shall be used to provide 
lifetime emoluments to National Athletes, as well as to support the needs of 
awardees so they can continue to participate in local as well as international 
sports competitions as Philippine delegates.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATORydOEL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session
'21 AUG-3 P5 :07
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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AN ACT
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES 
TO NATIONAL ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT 
FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
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 "Bayaning Atletang Filipino 
Act."
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to promote 
excellence in the field of sports and foster the values of sportsmanship, patriotism, and 
nationalism to support nation-building and development.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
hereby defined as follows;
a. International sports competition shall refer to international sports
competitions under the following categories:
1. Regular major competitions, such as but not limited to, the Summer 
Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Winter 
Games, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Youth Olympic Games, 
Paralympic Games, Asian Park Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts 
Games, Asian Beach Games, and Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (ASEAN) Para Games;
2. World-level championships held at least every two (2) years with at least 
forty-five (45) countries participating by sport;
3. Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least 
twenty-five (25) countries participating by sport; and


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4. Qualifying competitions for World-level games with at least ten (10) 
countries participating;
b. National Academy of Sports or NAS shall refer to the NAS System 
established under Republic Act No. 11470 or ary of its existing or future 
campuses which aims to provide quality and enhanced secondary 
education program integrated with a special curriculum on sports.
SECTION 4. The Order of National Athletes. - There is hereby established the Order 
of National Athletes (Orden ng mga Pambansang Atleta) which shall be the highest 
honor the Government of the Philippines shall confer to its outstanding sports heroes 
who have brought immense pride and honor to the country and have dedicated their 
lives towards the advancement of their sports.
The Order shall be under the National Orders of Cultural and Scientific Merit 
pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 236, s. 
2003. It shall be administered by the Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino, otherwise 
known as the Committee, created under Section 8 of this Act, and conferred by the 
President of the Philippines upon recommendation by the Committee.
Olympic medalists shall automatically be conferred the Order, which shall be 
retroactive from the effectivity of this Act.
Awardees of the Order of National Athletes shall enjoy the following privileges:
a. The rank and title of National Athlete, as proclaimed by the President of the 
Philippines:
b. The National Athlete medallion and citation;
c. Lifetime emolument and material benefits such as:
1. 
A cash award to be determined by the Comm ttee, net of taxes for living 
awardees;
2. A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of taxes for 
posthumous awardees and payable to legal heir/s;
3. 
A monthly life pension and medical and hospitalization benefits;
4. 
Life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable;
5. A place of honor in state functions, national commemoration 
ceremonies, and all other sports and cultural events; and
6. 
A state funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which shall 
be borne by the Government upon the death of the National Athlete.
SECTION 5. The National Medal of Excellence In Sports. - There is hereby 
established the National Medal of Excellence in Sports (Pambansang Medalya ng 
Katangi-tanging Husay sa Isports) for outstanding individual and team achievements 
in international sports competitions. The President of the Philippines shall confer the 
National Medal of Excellence in Sports upon recommendation by the Committee.
SECTION 6. The Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship. - There is hereby established 
the Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship (Gawad Balangay) for heroic sportsmanship 
shown by athletes during international and local competitions exemplifying the values 
of honesty, fairness, selflessness, sacrifice, amity, and goodwill. The President of the


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Philippines shall confer the Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship upon recommendation 
by the Committee.
SECTION 7. Coaching Excellence Medal. - There is hereby established the 
Coaching Excellence Medal (Gabay ng Atletang Pilipino) for coaches who have gone 
above and beyond in nurturing athletes to reach their full potential and lead the team 
to victory in international sports competitions. The President of the Philippines shall 
confer the Coaching Excellence Medal upon recommendation by the Committee.
SECTION 8. Priority of Awardees and/or their Dependents in the National 
Academy of Sports Scholarship. - Awardees under this Act shall have the option 
and priority to enroll, on a full-scholarship basis, in the Nadonal Academy of Sports 
System Main Campus or any regional nationally-funded h gh schools for sports. In 
case the awardee has completed his/her secondary education, or in the case of a 
posthumous awardee, his/her legal heir may be prioritized in the entry into the National 
Academy of Sports or any regional nationally-funded high school for sports, subject to 
the requirements and qualifications as may be set by the NAS or the high school 
concerned.
SECTION 9. Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino. - The Committee shall be under 
the Office of the President. The Committee shall be composed of the following:
a. 
Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), as Chairman;
b. 
Secretary of the Department of Education or an authorized representative, 
as Member;
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education or an authorized 
representative, as Member;
President of the Philippine Olympic Comrrittee or an authorized 
representative, as Member;
Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission or an authorized representative, 
as Member;
Chairperson of the National Youth Commission or an authorized 
representative, as Member; and,
g. Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or an 
authorized representative, as Member.
SECTION 10. Role and Function of the Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Pilipino. -
The Committee shall approve the criteria, standards, nomination and selection 
processes, and benefits and privileges of the recipients of the awards under this Act.
The Committee shall likewise be the administrator of the Hidilyn Diaz 
Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes.
SECTION 11. Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes. - There is hereby 
established a Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes to exclusively fund the 
benefits provided in this Act and support the continuous training of all the awardees 
and their participation or exposure in international sports competitions.
a. The amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated 
as seed money of the Endowment Fund; Provided, That no grant shall be
c.
d.
e.
f.


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awarded by the Committee except from the interest drawn from the Fund; 
Provided, further, that no grant shall be awarded until after one (1) year from 
the organization of the Fund;
b. The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from the donations and other 
conveyances by gratuitous title, including funds, materials, property, and 
services,;
c. Contribution to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax purposes in 
accordance with Section 34 (h)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code;
d. For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Committee shall 
appoint a reputable government-accredited investment institution as Fund 
Manager, subject to guidelines promulgated by the Committee and applicable 
government auditing and accounting rules;
e. The Committee shall be the administrator of the Fund and shall prepare the 
implementing guidelines and decision-making mechanisms, subject to the 
following:
1. Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only earnings of private 
contributions shall be used;
2. No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof, shall be 
used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration;
3. The Committee shall organize a separate staff to be headed by a 
comptroller appointed by and directly responsible and accountable to the 
Committee; and
4. The Fund shall be audited annually by an independent external auditor or 
the Commission on Audit, as may be appropriate.
SECTION 12. Existing Incentives, Benefits, and Privileges. - The incentives, 
benefits, and privileges provided under this Act shall not diminish or affect existing 
incentives, benefits, and privileges provided in existing laws.
SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Committee shail 
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act.
SECTION 13. Appropriations. - The amount of One Billion Pesos 
(P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to serve as seed money for the Hidilyn 
Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes as provided in Section 11 of this Act. The 
amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against 
the current year's appropriations of the PSC. Thereafter, such appropriations 
necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
SECTION 14. Separability. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be in 
full force and effect.


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SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, and administrative 
orders, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby 
repealed or amended accordingly.
SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,