SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
Tj JUL HI 
D j ;;9 
SENATE 
S. No. 896 
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Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to' extend benefits and other privileges to our professional athletes who have brought honor 
and glory to the country by becoming world champions andlor winning international sports competitions. 
Our professional athletes risk lives and limbs in order to give honor and glory to the motherland. They 
often forego employment opportunities to practice and perfect their craft in the hope that they can one day 
win that coveted Championship or international sports competition and make us proud to be Filipinos. 
When they win, they receive our praise, exultation and collective adulation at least while they remain 
champions and winners. When their reign is over, they often find themselves alone, abandoned and 
without any viable means to support themselves and their fumilies. 
The cases of former Filipino world boxing champions Rolando Navarette and Luisito Espinosa are cases 
in point. Navarette has been reduced to the life of a pauper; dependent on charitable gestures from his 
countrymen for his sustenance and for his medical expenses. 
Luisito Espinosa has been forced to 
continue fighting and to struggle financially so he could survive in a far away land (the United States), 
It is a sad reality but we often see Filipino world champions and sporting heroes suffer and even die 
penniless after their heydays. Clearly, something has to be done to help those who have brought us honor 
and glory to at least have a decent life after their glory days. Champions are champions. They deserve 
something better than a mere pat in the back or the short-lived adulation of his countrymen. 
The prestige that boxing great Manny Pacquiao, our 8-Division World Champion has brought to the 
country in the international arena cannot be overemphasized. Undoubtedly, he has restored the 
Philippines in the world boxing map, earning the adulation and respect not only of his countrymen but of 
boxing aficionados and even ordinary folks the world over. We not only excel in boxing but in other 
sports as welL Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros-Posadas, the bowling hall-of-famer Paeng Nepomuceno - all 
of them are world or Asian champions. The list is endless but our memories are rather short. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to grant financial benefits to our prized athletes in the form of retirement 
pensions, health care and death benefit. Admittedly, even the benefits proposed in this Bill are at best 
modest and inadequate compared to the sacrifices and hardships our athletes had to endure for our country 
but at least the same will signify and symbolize our collective expression of gratitude for the honor and 
glory they have brought our country. The same represent a starting point in the continuing effort to look 
after the welfare and interest of our professional athletes, 
A version of this bill was passed by both Houses during the IS'h Congress. Unfortunately, the same was 
vetoed by the President. It is my hope that this Congress, a compromise could be arrived at and this bill 
could be finally enacted into law for the benefit of our poor countrymen, 
In view of the foregoing circumstances, approval of this bill is urgently requested. 
AN ON] "solt:ANFS IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JllL 1 B r 1 :29 
SENATE 
________________ ~-~--S-.N-o~.--8~9~S~~--~--~---I-{l-{-. ____ 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
GRANTING RETIREMENT, HEALTH 
CARE AND 
DEATH BENEFITS TO 
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIOSHIP TITLES 
IN INTERNA 'JaONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS OR IN OTHER 
EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL GAMES AND PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER! 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Professional Filipino 
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Athletes Retirement, Health Care and Death Benefits Act of 2013." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall provide retirement, health care, and 
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death benefits to professional Filipino athletes who win world championship titles in 
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international professional sports competitions or in other equally prestigious world championship 
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games, in both iindividual or team events, in recognition of the glory and honor they have 
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bestowed to the country. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be 
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defined as follows: 
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a. Board - shall refer to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB); 
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b. Filipino Athlete - shall refer to professional athletes who are citizens of the Philippines, 
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except those enjoying dual citizenship by virtue of R.A. No. 9225 otherwise known as 
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the "Citiienship Retention and Reacquisition Act of2003"; 
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c. International Professional Sports Competitions - shall refer to international bodies that 
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are recognized, accredited and have a mutual working relationship, agreement, and/or 
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memorandum of understanding with the Board; 
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d. International Sporting Organizations -
shall refer to international bodies that are 
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recognized, accredited, and have a mutual working relationship, agreement, and/or 
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memorandum ofunderstanding with the Board; 
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e. Other Equally Prestigious World Championship Games -
shall refer to other 
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international professional sports competitions that confer the same rank or stature as 
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world championship titles and are reco gnized as such by the Board; 
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f. 
Primary Ben~ficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the legitimate spouse and 
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legitimate or illegitimate children; 
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g. Professional Athlete - shaH refer to any natural person who is paid a sum of money or 
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other equivalent compensation as a salary or prize money for participating in a game, 
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bout, tournament or contest of professional sport, either as an individual contestant or a 
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member i of a team, under a contract entered into with a professional sports 
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promoter/operator or team owner and licensed by the Board; 
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h. Professional Sports - shaH refer to individual or team sports, games, contest, bouts, 
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tournaments or competitions whereby the participating athlete is paid sums of money or 
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other forms of compensation as regular salary or prize for participation, which are 
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accredited and/or recognized by the Board. 
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Secondary bene.ficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shaH refer to the parents, and in their 
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absence, to the brothers or sister 0 f pro fessional athletes. 
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CHAPTER II 
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RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE AND DEATH BENEFITS 
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SEC. 4. Retiremellt Bellefits - Professional Filipino Athletes as defined under this Act, 
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who win in international professional sports competitions shall, upon reaching the age of fifty 
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(50), receive the following retirement benefits: 
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(a) For Individual Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at least Fifteen Thousand Pesos 
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(Php 15,000.00) for the individual winner; 
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(b) For Team Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at last Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 
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10,000.00) for each team member; Provided, That for athletes who win in individual and 
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team events, the retirement benefits for individual events shall apply. 
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Athletes who are actively employed at the time they reach the age of fifty (50) 
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and have availed of the retirement benefits under this Act may continue with such 
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employment; Provided, That the retirement benefits under this Act shall be separate and 
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distinct from the mandatory retirement benefits provided by existing laws or pursuant to 
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existing company policies. 
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SEC. 5. Health Care Belle/its. -
Immediately upon winning m any international 
professional sports competitions, Professional Filipino Athletes shall be covered by the National 
Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH), 
through a special program sponsored by the Board, which will provide the required local 
government premium counterpart to be directly remitted to the PHILHEALTH. Upon reaching 
the age of fifty (50), the athlete shall continue to be a member of the program, subject to existing 
rules and .regulation of the PHILHEAL TH. 
In case of hospitalization of the Professional Filipino athlete in any hospital or clinic, any 
amount in excess of the PHILHEALTH benefit shall be shouldered by the Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under its Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP); 
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Provided, That the requirement for qualification and grant of the health care assistance to be 
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extended by the PCSO shall be made consistent with and subject to compliance with PCSO's 
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existing rules and guidelines; Provided, further, That any qualified beneficiary shall have the 
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option to waive the benefits mentioned under this Section. 
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SEC. 6. Death Benefits. - Upon the death of a Professional Filipino Athlete, the primary 
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beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum death benefit of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 
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50,000.00) to cover funeral services/expenses; Provided, That, if there are no pnmary 
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beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to said benefits. 
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SEC. 7. Adjustment of Retirement Benefits. - The Board is hereby authorized to adjust 
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the retirement benefits provided in Section 4 hereof, based on studies, consultations and public 
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hearings with relevant agencies and entities. However, no memorandum, order or issuance shall 
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diminish the prescribed retirement benefits provided herein. 
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CHAPTER III 
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TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
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SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The Chairman ofthe Board shall immediately include in the 
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Board's program' the implementation of the benefits under this Act, the funding of which shall be 
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included in the ~nnual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. to.Professional Filipino Athletes Welfare Development Trust Fund. -There shall 
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be an independeht and separate trust fund established under this Act, to be administered by the 
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Board. An amount not less than eighty percent (80%) for the first five (5) years, accrued from the 
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licensing, regishiation and accreditation fees, fines and charges shall be used for the purpose of 
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the professional Filipino athlete's welfare development trust fund. The fund shall be used for je 
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continued upgrafng of training facilities to conform with international standards, accreditation 
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of and other forms of assistance and support to the professional athlete's sector. The trust fund 
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may also accept grants and donations from national and foreign entities and individuals 
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interested in the professional athletes' development. 
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SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Board within ninety (90) days 
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after the effectivity 0 fthis Act, through a technical working committee, and in consultation with 
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the sectors concerned, shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations for the 
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full implementation of this Act. Provided, however, that copies of the formulated rules and 
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regulatidns shall be submitted to the Committee on Games and Amusement of both Houses of 
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Congress. Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon publication in a newspaper of general 
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circulation. 
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SEC. 12. Reportorial Requirements - The Board shall submit an annual report of the 
implementation of this Act to the relevant committees of both Houses of Congress. 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause - If any provision or part of this Act shall be held 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the law or other provisions, which are not affected 
thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEc. 14. Repealing Clause - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 15~ Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
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at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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