Republic af the Plilippines
House of Representatives |
Quezon Gify, Motes Manila
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS \
First Regular Session

6048

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PRESERVING THE INDIGENOUS GAMES OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Culture shapes values. In this digital era, Filipino children spend most of
their time with game consoles, either at home or in internet cafés, in contrast
with the kids of the past who would spend their leisure time interacting with
other children, playing the traditional street games. These games include
patintero, tumbang preso, siato, taguan pung, and tumbang preso, to name a
few.

These indigenous games have shaped generations of Filipinos and have
imparted values of teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. It has been part of
our childhood and our cultural heritage.

This proposed measure seeks to preserve indigenous games to ensure that
future generations of Filipinos can still enjoy them. This bill was approved by the
House of Representatives on third and final reading and was transmitted to the
Senate, but failed to be passed into a law due to time constraints. We seek to
revive the efforts on making this worthwhile advocacy become law.

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

‘D VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatines
Quezon City, Metro Manila
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 6048

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
PRESERVING THE INDIGENOUS GAMES OF THE PHILIPPINES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine
Indigenous Games Preservation Act’.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article II, Section 22 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall recognize and promote the
rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity
and development. Furthermore, Article 31.1 of the United Nations Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples enjoins all State signatories to take effective
measures to recognize and to protect the exercise of the indigenous peoples’
rights which include the maintenance, control, and development of their cultural
heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional expression, oral traditions,
literatures, designs, sports and traditional games, among others.

Pursuant to the aforesaid mandates, it is incumbent upon the State to lay
down specific policy directives to promote the interests of our indigenous
peoples, to strengthen our cultural heritage and our historical roots. To further
this policy, the State shall take the necessary steps to preserve the indigenous
peoples’ games which serve as the best avenue for self-expression, and for
promoting peace, harmony, goodwill, and camaraderie among them.


SECTION 3. Indigenous Games. Indigenous games refer to the traditional
sports and games or activities inherent to the different indigenous cultural
communities reflecting their rich cultural heritage, traditions or customs handed
down from generation to generation such as, but not limited to, dug-out, canoe
races, precision-around obstacles or rapids, supok or sumpit, sungka, kadang-
kadang, tumbang preso, piko, and sepak takraw and such other games distinct
with the indigenous communities.

SECTION 4. Preservation of Indigenous Games. — The National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in coordination with the Department of
Education (DepEd), shall initiate measures to preserve indigenous games in the
country, such as the inclusion of games as part of the curriculum in the basic
education system of our schools, production of documentary or other useful
means, and the conduct of regular demonstration of such games in national
events and in appropriate school activities.

The NCCA shall likewise conduct research on the various sports
traditionally played by different indigenous groups within the region to ensure
the preservation and development of these games.

SECTION 5. Annual Regional and National Indigenous Games. The
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in coordination with the Philippine Olympic
Committee (POC), and the local government units (LGUs) shall conduct annual
regional and national indigenous sports competitions.

‘The host LGU shall have the prerogative to choose which sports events
shall be included in the regional and national Indigenous sports competitions.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The NCCA and the
DepEd as the lead agencies, in coordination with the PSC, POC and LGUs, shall
promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act
within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.


SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees,
rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act
are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,