FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. n. No. 3168 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G, ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The 1'alarong Pambansa (l'alaro) serves as a national sports event for students 
from competitions starling at the school, then provincial, and finally from regional levels 
emerging to participate. In effect, the Palaro is a culmination for student-athletes and 
determines the champion in each sporting event, and thereby carries tremendous pride 
for all participants. 
Thus, the Palaro serves as a medium for imbibing sportsmanship nationwide, and 
also promotes the total development of students as athletes. The Palaro has also been a 
venue for further development and has been a feeder for participants to get into colleges 
and universities, where outstanding performers are recruited and given scholarships 
and further training, eventually being able to represent the country in various 
international sport competitions. 
However, the l'alaro has been marred in the past by funding problems, 
promotion difficulties, and cancellations. This bill seeks to remedy the situation by 
institutionalizing the Palarontj l'ambansa and provide funding, administration and 
hosting support among others. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


• 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
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) 
) 
SENATE 
s.No.3t68 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CONDUCT OF THE PALARONG 
PAMBANSA AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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Section 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the "Palarong Pambansa Act". 
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Sec. 2. Declamtion of i'olicy. - It is the policy of the State to promote physical 
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education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, 
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induding training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and 
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excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry through the 
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institutionalization of the Palarong l'ambansa as the country's premier national sporting 
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event I-Ience, it shall be a declared policy of the State to support programs that will 
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improve and promote Palarong Pambansa as the primary avenue for providing in-
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school sports opportunities to improve the physical, moral, intellectual and social well-
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being of the youth. All educational institutions are therefore directed to promote 
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physical education and undertake regular sports activities as well as support the local 
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meets and the l'alarong l'ambansa. 
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Sec. 3. Objectives - The objectives of this Act are the following: 
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(a) To institutionalize the Palarong Pambansa as the premier 
national 
sporting event of the country under the Department of Education (DepEd) 
as a venue for talent identification, selection and recruitment of student 
athletes; 
(b) To improve the DepEd's national school sports program and give more 
prestige to the annual sports event by encouraging better participation of 
schools through incentives and rewards; and 
(c) To encourage the local government units (LGUs) to take a pro-active role 
particularly in the promotion of the Palarong Pambansa locally and 
nationally by providing incentives and rewards. 
ARTICLE II 
ADMINIS'l'RAHON AND MANAGEMENT OF THE P ALARONG 
PAMBANSA 
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Sec. 4. Palarang l'ambansil Board - A Palarong Pambansa Board, hereinafter 
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referred to as the "Hoard", is hereby created as the lead policy-making and coordinating 
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body for the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa. The Board shall be attached to the 
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Department of Education and shall be the proprietary owner of the words "Palarong 
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Pambansa" and its related symbols, logos, and concept. 
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The Members of the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual traveling 
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and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as Members of the 
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Palarong Pambansa Board subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
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Sec. 5. Membership of lhe Board - The Palarong I'ambansa Board shall have eleven 
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(11) members composed of the following: 
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(a) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) - Chairperson 
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(b) Four (4) Undersecretaries of the DepEd 
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(C) Three (3) Assistant Secretaries of the DepEd 
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(d) Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (Psq 
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(e) President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (Poq 
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(f) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
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Sec. 6. Functions lind Duties of the Board - The Board shall have the following 
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functions and duties: 
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(a) To formulate policies and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the 
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Palarong Pambansa and other related school sports activities leading to the 
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Palarong Pambansa; 
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(b) To review and update regularly the rules and regulations of sports 
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included in the Palarong Pambansa 111 accordance with international 
standards; 
(c) To develop and recommend programs and policies that will promote the 
Palarong Pambansa and increase the awareness of the public, encourage 
schools to participate and improve their performance in sports and 
physical education, as well as encourage the LGUs to support and promote 
the country's premier sports event; 
(d) To provide incentives and rewards to participating schools and LGUs 
including medal winners; 
(e) To formulate and issue policies and guidelines on the accreditation of 
athletes, coaches and chaperones; 
(f) To create the Palarong Pambansa Communications Task Force; 
(g) To create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee; 
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(h) To develop marketing strategies to generate funds and promote the 
Palarong Pambansa including, but not limited to, royalties, merchandising 
and advertisements; 
(i) To allocate funds for the conduct of school sports activities leading to the 
Palarong Pambansa; 
0) To formulate and issue the criteria for the selection of host LGU and 
approve bids to host the Palarong Pambansa; 
(k) 
To set the date of the staging of the Palarong Pambansa; 
(I) 
To identify the sports to be included in the Palarong Pambansa; 
(m) 
To appoint a Secretary-General of the Palarong Pambansa; 
(n) 
(0) 
(p) 
(q) 
(r) 
To enter into contracts or obligations essential for the proper 
accomplishment of its purposes and objectives; 
To conduct regular inventory of existing sports facilities, venues, and 
equipment throughout the country; 
To formulate guidelines for the conduct of sports events for students with 
disability; 
To assess the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa and submit an annual 
report to Congress; and 
To exercise such other acts as may be necessary for the effective 
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implementation of this Act. 
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Sec. 7. Secretary-General - A Secretary-General shall be appointed by the Board 
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from among the Members of the Board representing the DepEd. The Secretary-General 
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shall recommend to the Board the constitution of the Secretariat and all the activities 
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undertaken by the latter requiring the utilization of funds. The Secretariat, which shall 
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come from the existing personnel of the DepEd, PSC and DILG, shall manage the 
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conduct of the l'alarong Pambansa and other sports activities leading to the Palarong 
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Pambansa. 
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Sec. 8. Regional Athletics Associations (lV1As) - The DepEd Regional Offices shall 
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organize the RAAs 
which shall supervise the conduct of the regional meets and 
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organize their respective regional delegations to the Palarong Pambansa. 
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ARTICLE III 
HOSTING OF P ALARONG P AMBANSA 
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SEC. 9. Hosting of the Palarong Pambansa - The hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 
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shall be determined by bidding and guided by the principle of rotation among the 
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following geographical clusters: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 
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Two (2) adjoining LGUs may host the Palarong Pambansa: Provided, That, one of 
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the host LGUs does not have available venues and facilities to accommodate all the 
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sports events. 
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SEC. 10. Criteria for the Selection of the Palarong l'ambansa Host LGU - The Board 
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shall formulate the criteria for the selection of the host LGU, which shall take into 
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consideration the existing sports facilities, capacity to accommodate the participants and 
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guests, security, peace and order situation, and the need of the LGU for an opportunity 
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to promote and showcase its socio-economic-cultural characteristics through the 
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Palarong Pambansa. Provided, That, LGUs with existing sports facilities shall be given 
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priority. 
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ARTICLE IV 
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PROMOTION OF THE P ALARONG P AM13ANSA 
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SEC. 11. Incentives for Host LGU and Participating Schools -
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(a) 
Host LCU - The Board shall come up with incentives for the winning host 
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LGU to encourage more LGUs to bid in the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa. 
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(b) 
Schools with students who are participating in the Palarong Pambansa -
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The Board shall provide incentives for schools with students representing their 
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respective regions in the Palarong Pambansa. Incentives shall include, but not be 
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limited to, financial support for additional scholarships and improvement of their 
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sports and physical education program. 
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SEC. 12. Promo/ion of PalaJ'ong Pambansa - The Board shall create the Palarong 
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Pambansa Communications Task Force with the following duties and responsibilities: 
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(a) Formulation of marketing and communications plan to ensure the promotion 
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of the Palarong Pambansa and encourage LGUs to bid in the hosting of the 
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event and for schools to improve their sports and physical education 
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programs with the aim to send representative athletes in the Palarong 
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Pambansa; 
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(b) Ensure the coverage of the Palarong Pambansa in both the national and local 
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media; 
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(c) Enter into sponsorship, merchandising and royalty agreements with private 
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entities as additional source of funds for the Palarong Pambansa; 
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The Task Force shall be composed of representatives from the following 
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government agencies: 
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(a) Department of Education (DepEd) 
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(b) Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 
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(c) Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) 
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(d) DepEd Regional Offices 
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ARTICLE V 
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ELIGIBILITY AND ACCREDITATION 
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Sec. 13. National Screening and Accreditation Commillee (NSAC) - The Board shall 
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constitute the National Screening and Accreditation Committee that will evaluate, and 
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verify the authenticity of the documents submitted by the athletes, coaches and 
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chaperones applying for accreditation. NSAC shall accredit qualified athletes, coaches 
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and chaperones and shall submit a masterlist to the Board at least two (2)months before 
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the Palarong Pambansa. 
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Sec. 14. Composition ofNSAC - The NSAC shall be composed of the following: 
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(a) Representative from the DepEd Legal Division 
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(b) Two (2) government physicians 
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(c) Two (2) government dentists 
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(d) Authorized representative from each RAA 
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SEC. 15. Protests on Eligibility and Appeals on Disqualification - The Board shall issue 
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guidelines on the process of addressing protests and appeals on the eligibility or 
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disqualification of athletes, coaches and chaperones: Provided, That, all protests and 
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appeals must be resolved with finality within thirty (30) days upon the receipt of the 
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protest or appeal by the Board. 
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ARTICLE VI 
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SPORTS EVENTS AND STANDARDS 
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SEC. 16. Sporls Evenls - The official sports events in the Palarong Pambansa shall 
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include, but not be limited to the following: 
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(a) Elementary Division 
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(1) 
Athletics 
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(2) 
Badminton 
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(3) 
Baseball 
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(4) 
Basketball 
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(5) 
Chess 
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(6) 
Football 
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(7) 
Gymnastics 
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(8) 
Sepak Takraw 
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(9) 
Softball 
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(10) 
Swimming 
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(1\) 
Table Tennis 
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(12) 
Taekwondo 
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(13) 
Tennis 
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(14) 
Volleyball 
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(15) 
Arnis 
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(b) Secondary Division 
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(I) 
Archery 
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(2) 
Arnis 
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(3) 
Athletics 
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(16) 
(17) 
Badminton 
Baseball 
Basketball 
Boxing 
Chess 
Football 
Gymnastics 
Sepak Takraw 
Softball 
Swimming 
Table Tennis 
Taekwondo 
Tennis 
Volleyball 
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Provided, 'i7wt, appropriate sports events shall be organized for students with 
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disability. 
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SEC. 17. R.egulations and Standards - The Board shall conduct a review of the 
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current rules and regulations and an inventory of existing sports facilities, venues and 
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equipments being used in the Palarong Pambansa. All sports events must be played 
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according to international rules and regulations and the sports venues, facilities and 
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equipment to be used shall be in accordance with international standards. The Board 
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shall consult the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in the review of the rules and 
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regulations of each sports event. 
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ARTICLE VII 
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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES OF PSC, POC and DILG 
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Sec. 18. Philippine Sports Commission -
The PSC shall have the following duties 
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and responsibilities: 
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1. The PSC shall make available its manpower and technical resources, 
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and facilities for the Palarong Pambansa and other school sports and 
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physical education programs of the DepED; and 
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2. The lOSe, in coordination with DepED, shall formulate and implement a 
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training program for outstanding athletes of the Palarong Pambansa to 
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ensure the continuity of their athletic development and education. 
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Sec. 19. Philippine Olympic Committee - The POC shall have the following duties 
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and responsibilities: 
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1. 
To provide technical support to all programs that DepEd may implement 
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to train its teachers, coaches and officiating team; 
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To provide technical support in the formulation of the specification of 
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equipment to be procured for the Palarong Pambansa; and 
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To provide technical support to all programs that DepEd may implement 
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to train DepEd and non-DepEd personnel who will manage the events to 
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be played in the Palarong Pambansa. The POC may also endorse qualified 
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non-DepEd personnel to serve as event managers. 
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Sec. 20. Department of the Interior and Local Government - The DILG shall have the 
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following duties and responsibilities: 
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To direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a 
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comprehensive security plan for the LGU where the Palarong Pambansa 
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will be held; 
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2. 
To appoint a representative to the Host LCU Palarong Pambansa Board; 
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To direct all LGUs where the events will be played to coordinate, cooperate 
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and support the plans of the Host LGU Palarong Pambansa Board and the 
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National Palarong Pambansa Board. 
ARTICLE VIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
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Sec. 21. Approprirztions 
- The amount currently appropriated in the General 
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Appropriations Act (GAA) for the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa including pre-
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national Palaro under the DepEd shall be allocated and utilized for the initial 
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implementation of this Act. 
Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its 
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continued implementation shall be included under the budget of the DepEd in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act. 
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Sec. 22. Implernenting Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the 
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approval of this Act, the DepEd, together with the concerned agencies, shall prepare and 
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of 
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this Act. The mRs shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the publication in a major 
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daily newspaper of general circulation. 
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Sec. 23. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in 
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full force and effect. 
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Sec, 24. Repealing Clause -
All laws, decrees, executive orders, particularly 
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Executive Order 433, presidential issuances and other administrative rules and 
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
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amended or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 25. Effeclivily - The implementation of this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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