Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Sesison 
House Bill No. ___ 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to “promote physical 
education and encourage sports programs, leagues competitions, and amateur 
sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, 
teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.” 
[Section 19 (1), Article XIV] The fundamental charter also includes sports among 
the priorities of the State “to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social 
progress, and promote total human liberation and development.” [Sec. 17, Art. II] 
In line with the aforesaid principles and State policies, this bill aims to 
institutionalize an inclusive national sports competition that will promote awareness 
and interest in sports, particularly in the countryside, generate wide participation 
of the citizenry in sports through the active involvement of local government units 
(LGUs), and serve as the linkage between grassroots sports development and 
national amateur and elite sports development. 
This latest version of the bill seeks to address the concerns raised in the Veto 
Message of His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. dated 
December 23, 2024 primarily thru the revision of the appropriation clause so as to 
render the same consistent with the legislative function of the budget authorization 
process through the enactment of an appropriation.  
As for the other concern – on the possible duplication between the Palarong 
Pambansa and the Philippine National Games (PNG) – it bears restating that other 
than the ostensible similarity in meaning of the names, the two sports organizations 
are substantially separate and distinct from each other. A cursory reading of 
Republic Act No. 10588 would reveal that the Palarong Pambansa is a school-based 
sports program of the Department of Education, participated in by students 18 
years old and below. Thus, it’s probably more accurate to refer to it or describe it 
as a “Palarong Pambansang Pampaaralan”, rather than conceive of it as a 
comprehensive or “national” sports competition in the country, as the PNG is. On 
the other hand, the Philippine National Games is a grassroots competition program 
August 11, 2025
1:13 pm
3440


2 
of the Philippine Sports Program participated in by athletes 18 years old and above, 
representing various local government units throughout the country. If there is any 
nexus or link between the two sports organizations, it is only that the Palarong 
Pambansa is one (among many, such as “Batang Pinoy”, other local sports 
competitions, etc.) of the feeder sports program of the Philippine National Games. 
To further highlight the difference between the two sports entities, it bears 
repeating that the participants of the Palarong Pambansa are student-athletes, 
whereas the demographics of the Philippine National Games are amateur and elite 
athletes, including athletes with disabilities, out-of-school youth, civilian, military, 
and other uniformed personnel of the national government agencies, et. al. 
Given the clear and substantial distinctions between the said sports 
organizations, concerns about functional duplication, leadership confusion and 
inefficiency would be more apparent than real.  
In view of these compelling reasons, the approval, at the earliest possible 
time, of this measure is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA 
Fourth District of Leyte 


3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Sesison 
House Bill No. ___ 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING AND INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL 
GAMES 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 “Philippine 
1 
National Games Act.” 
2 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article XIV, Section 19 (1) of the 
3 
Constitution provides that the State shall promote physical education and 
4 
encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including 
5 
training for international sports competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, 
6 
and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. 
7 
Pursuant thereto, the State shall institutionalize an inclusive national sports 
8 
competition that will promote awareness and interest in sports, particularly in the 
9 
countryside, generate wide participation of the citizenry in sports through the active 
10 
involvement of local government units (LGUs), and serve as the linkage between 
11 
grassroots sports development and national amateur and elite sports development. 
12 
SEC. 3. Expansion and Institutionalization of the Philippine National 
13 
Games. – The Philippine National Games (PNG), the national multi-sport 
14 
tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), is hereby 
15 
3440


4 
 
expanded and institutionalized. 
1 
The PNG shall serve as the country’s premier national multi-sports 
2 
competition and venue for the discovery of potential national and elite athletes. It 
3 
shall be composed of sports competitions for athletes and athletes with disabilities. 
4 
It shall be held once every two years and shall be participated in by athletes, 
5 
including athletes with disabilities, from the different provinces, in collaboration 
6 
with municipalities under their jurisdiction, and cities of the country: Provided, That 
7 
the sports competition for athletes with disabilities shall be held after the conclusion 
8 
of the sports competition for athletes: Provided, further, That national sports 
9 
associations, in accordance with Republic Act No. 6847 or ‘The Philippine Sports 
10 
Commission Act”, shall continue to conduct separate competitions and determine 
11 
the athletes, coaches and other officials that will be part of the country’s national 
12 
team.  
13 
 
Sec. 4. Objectives. – The PNG shall have the following objectives: 
14 
(a) To provide a framework and structure for a truly integrated and 
15 
comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports 
16 
promotion to elite sports development, including sporting events 
17 
applicable to athletes with disabilities; 
18 
(b) To encourage all LGUs to promote the development of sports in all 
19 
provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays; 
20 
(c) To serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in 
21 
promoting their respective sports programs at the grassroots level and 
22 
providing the necessary linkages with LGUs;  
23 
(d) To serve as one of the feeder programs for the pool of student-athletes 
24 
who shall be given priority in the grant of full scholarship on secondary 
25 
education program at the National Academy of Sports (NAS), subject to 
26 
the rules and regulations of the NAS; and 
27 
(e) To widen the base for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of 
28 
athletes, including athletes with disabilities, who shall constitute the 
29 
national pool to be trained for international sports competitions. 
30 
SEC. 5. Participation in the PNG. – To generate awareness and ensure 
31 
the wide participation of athletes, including athletes with disabilities, with the 
32 


5 
 
potential to become national amateur and elite athletes, LGUs, through their 
1 
barangay, municipal, city, and provincial Physical Fitness and Sports Development 
2 
Councils (PFSDCs), shall encourage, promote or organize local sports competitions 
3 
within their respective jurisdictions as well as recruit, train and select athletes, 
4 
including athletes with disabilities, for sporting events competed at the PNG. 
5 
Provinces, in collaboration with municipalities under their jurisdiction, and 
6 
cities shall form and send their delegations to the qualifying competitions and, 
7 
thereafter, to the national championship competition of the PNG. 
8 
National 
government 
agencies, 
government-owned 
or 
controlled 
9 
corporations, state universities and colleges, and constitutional commissions shall 
10 
support and allow the participation of civilian, military, and other uniformed 
11 
personnel to the PNG through the provinces and cities where their personnel are 
12 
residents.   
13 
Athletes, including athletes with disabilities, who will form part of the 
14 
delegation of the participating provinces and cities to the PNG must be Filipino 
15 
citizens who comply with the minimum age requirement of the concerned NSA for 
16 
the particular sport.  
17 
No athlete who participated in a local sports competition organized by a 
18 
PFSDC and subsequently represented the provincial or city sports delegation in the 
19 
qualifying competitions of the PNG for a particular edition shall be permitted to 
20 
transfer and represent another provincial or city sports delegation in the national 
21 
championship competition of the PNG.   
22 
The PNG shall take into consideration the activities and programs of the 
23 
Palarong Pambansa and other local and international competitions to ensure that 
24 
the welfare of the athletes is given paramount importance: Provided, That in case 
25 
of overlapping competition schedules, the PSC, in coordination with concerned 
26 
NSAs, shall issue guidelines on the prioritization of competitions: Provided, further, 
27 
That international competitions where the Philippines is represented shall be 
28 
prioritized. 
29 
SEC. 6. Feeder Sports Programs. – The Palarong Pambansa provided for 
30 
under Republic Act No. 10588, otherwise known as the “Palarong Pambansa Act of 
31 
2013”, the Batang Pinoy Program of the PSC, and other local sports competitions 
32 


6 
 
organized by the LGUs or the private sector, shall serve as the feeder system for 
1 
the recruitment of athletes by the LGUs for their participation in the various sporting 
2 
events in the PNG.  
3 
SEC. 7. Sporting Events. – The official sports of the PNG shall include the 
4 
following:  
5 
1) 
Aquatics 
6 
2) 
Archery 
7 
3) 
Arnis  
8 
4) 
Athletics 
9 
5) 
Badminton 
10 
6) 
Baseball 
11 
7) 
Basketball 
12 
8) 
Billiard and Snookers 
13 
9) 
Bowling 
14 
10) 
Boxing 
15 
11) 
Canoe-Kayak  
16 
12) 
Chess 
17 
13) 
Cycling 
18 
14) 
Dancesport 
19 
15) 
Esports  
20 
16) 
Fencing 
21 
17) 
Floorball 
22 
18) 
Football 
23 
19) 
Futsal 
24 
20) 
Golf 
25 
21) 
Gymnastics  
26 
22) 
Handball 
27 
23) 
Hockey  
28 
24) 
Jiu-Jitsu 
29 
25) 
Judo 
30 
26) 
Karate 
31 
27) 
Lawn Tennis 
32 


7 
 
28) 
Modern Pentathlon 
1 
29) 
Muay Thai 
2 
30) 
Pencak Silat 
3 
31) 
Petanque 
4 
32) 
Rowing 
5 
33) 
Rugby 
6 
34) 
Sailing  
7 
35) 
Sambo 
8 
36) 
Sepak Takraw  
9 
37) 
Shooting 
10 
38) 
Skateboarding  
11 
39) 
Softball 
12 
40) 
Soft Tennis 
13 
41) 
Squash 
14 
42) 
Surfing  
15 
43) 
Swimming 
16 
44) 
Table Tennis 
17 
45) 
Taekwondo  
18 
46) 
Tennis 
19 
47) 
Triathlon/Duathlon 
20 
48) 
Volleyball 
21 
49) 
Weightlifting 
22 
50) 
Wrestling 
23 
51) 
Wushu 
24 
The sports to be competed in the PNG shall be aligned with the sports 
25 
participated in by the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, ASEAN Para 
26 
Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, Olympics,  Paralympic Games, and other 
27 
international sports competitions: Provided, That the mandatory sporting events in 
28 
the Olympic and Paralympic Games shall, as far as practicable, be included in the 
29 
PNG, subject to the availability of sports facilities and venues in the LGU where the 
30 
PNG will be held: Provided, further, That the PNG Board may include new and 
31 
emerging sports to be competed in the PNG: Provided, finally, That the host LGU 
32 


8 
 
may recommend the inclusion of local sports to promote and showcase its 
1 
socioeconomic and cultural uniqueness through the PNG.  
2 
SEC. 8. Creation of the Philippine National Games Board. – To ensure 
3 
the attainment of the purposes and objectives of this Act, there is hereby created 
4 
the Philippine National Games Board, hereinafter referred to as the PNG Board. It 
5 
shall be the policy-making and coordinating body for the preparation and conduct 
6 
of the PNG.  
7 
The PNG Board shall be the proprietary owner of the phrase “Philippine 
8 
National Games” and its related symbols, logos, and concepts.  
9 
SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the PNG Board. – The PNG Board shall 
10 
have the following powers and functions: 
11 
(a) Formulate and approve plans, programs, policies, and guidelines that 
12 
shall govern the conduct of the PNG, and the relationships among the 
13 
organizations involved; 
14 
(b) Form an inter-agency Executive Committee, which shall be headed by a 
15 
Secretary-General, and working committees on screening, registration, 
16 
accreditation, billeting, and appeals, among others, as may be 
17 
necessary; 
18 
(c) Recognize the provincial and city PFSDCs that will be given authority to 
19 
register athletes and teams in the PNG; 
20 
(d) Determine the host and schedule of the PNG; 
21 
(e) Determine the use of sports facilities, school buildings, and classrooms 
22 
as may be necessary for the conduct of the PNG: Provided, That the PNG 
23 
Board shall use the Department of Education (DepEd) classrooms only 
24 
after all other facilities have been utilized; 
25 
(f) Coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and 
26 
other government agencies on the needed funding and technical 
27 
assistance in the implementation of this Act; 
28 
(g) Determine the sports to be competed in the PNG, subject to the 
29 
conditions set in Section 7 hereof; 
30 
(h) Provide incentives and rewards to host LGUs and winning LGUs; 
31 


9 
 
(i) Develop programs and policies that shall promote the PNG and ensure 
1 
multi-sectoral support to the PNG; 
2 
(j) Assess the conduct of the PNG and submit an annual report to Congress; 
3 
and 
4 
(k) Exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the effective 
5 
implementation of this Act. 
6 
SEC. 10. Composition of the PNG Board. – The PNG Board shall be 
7 
composed of the following: 
8 
(a) Chair: 
9 
Chairperson of the PSC 
10 
(b) Vice-Chair: 
11 
Undersecretary of the DILG, in charge of Sports Development at the local 
12 
levels 
13 
(c) Members: 
14 
i. 
Undersecretary of the DepEd, in charge of the Palarong 
15 
Pambansa  
16 
ii. 
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 
17 
iii. 
President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) 
18 
iv. 
President of the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) 
19 
v. 
President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) 
20 
vi. 
President of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) 
21 
vii. 
President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) 
22 
viii. 
President of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) 
23 
ix. 
Chairperson, Coordinating Council of Private Educational 
24 
Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) 
25 
The Members of the PNG Board, except the Chair and Vice-Chair, may be 
26 
represented by the next-in-rank officers of their agencies or organizations, as the 
27 
case may be. 
28 
The Members of the PNG Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual 
29 
traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as 
30 
Members thereof, subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
31 


10 
 
SEC. 11. Secretary-General of the PNG. – The Secretary-General shall 
1 
be appointed by the Chairperson of the PNG Board from among the officials of the 
2 
PSC. 
3 
The Secretary-General shall submit to the PNG Board all plans, programs, 
4 
and activities for the preparation, organization, and conduct of the PNG. 
5 
The Secretary-General shall be assisted by a Secretariat, which shall be 
6 
composed of existing personnel of the PSC, the DILG, the DepEd, and the POC. 
7 
SEC. 12. Roles of Government Agencies and Private Associations. – 
8 
In addition to the duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to them by the 
9 
PNG Board, the following government agencies and private associations shall 
10 
perform the following: 
11 
(a) PSC: 
12 
i. 
Carry 
out 
the 
overall 
management, 
coordination, 
and 
13 
implementation of the PNG; 
14 
ii. 
Coordinate with the DBM and other government agencies to secure 
15 
the needed funding and technical assistance in the implementation 
16 
of this Act; and 
17 
iii. 
Enter into contracts or obligations essential for the accomplishment 
18 
of plans, programs, and activities for the PNG that were approved 
19 
by the PNG Board. 
20 
(b) DILG: 
21 
i. 
Mandate all LGUs to coordinate, cooperate, and support the plans, 
22 
programs, and activities of the PNG through the issuance of 
23 
corresponding memorandum circulars or department orders and 
24 
guidelines within its jurisdiction to help carry out the objectives of 
25 
the PNG; and 
26 
ii. 
Direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a 
27 
comprehensive security plan for the LGU venues where the PNG 
28 
shall be held. 
29 
(c) LPP, LCP, LMP, and LnB: 
30 
i. 
Encourage the implementation of the PNG in their respective 
31 
member LGUs; and 
32 


11 
 
ii. 
Assist in disseminating information on the PNG within their 
1 
respective jurisdictions to encourage the active participation of 
2 
their members. 
3 
(d) DepEd: 
4 
i. 
Align the Palarong Pambansa calendar of activities, programs, and 
5 
policies to the conduct of the PNG; 
6 
ii. 
Allow the use of its sports facilities, school buildings, and 
7 
classrooms as may be necessary for the conduct of the PNG; 
8 
iii. 
Allow DepEd teachers, who are licensed or accredited technical 
9 
officials of the NSAs, to officiate in the PNG; and 
10 
iv. 
Issue memorandum circulars or department orders and guidelines 
11 
within its jurisdiction to implement the objectives of the PNG. 
12 
(e) CHED: 
13 
i. 
Promote the program and activities of the PNG to all higher 
14 
educational institutions; 
15 
ii. 
Enjoin the state universities and colleges to allow the use of their 
16 
sports facilities, school buildings, and classrooms as may be 
17 
necessary for the conduct of the PNG; and 
18 
iii. 
Issue memorandum circulars or orders on the alignment of tertiary 
19 
sports events and calendar of activities to the PNG. 
20 
(f) COCOPEA: 
21 
i. 
Promote the program and activities of the PNG to all private 
22 
educational institutions; 
23 
ii. Take into consideration, in its calendar of activities, programs, and 
24 
policies the conduct of the PNG; and 
25 
iii. Encourage private educational institutions to allow the use of their 
26 
sports facilities, school buildings, and classrooms as may be 
27 
necessary for the conduct of the PNG. 
28 
(g) LGUs: 
29 
i. 
Organize the multi-sectoral PFSDCs, headed by the local chief 
30 
executive, that will coordinate the implementation of an annual 
31 
palaro at the barangay, municipal, city, and provincial levels, 
32 


12 
 
pursuant to the mandates under Sections 389 (b) (13), 444 (b) (1) 
1 
(xix), 455 (b) (1) (xix), and 465 (b) (1) (xix) of the Local 
2 
Government Code of 1991, as amended; 
3 
ii. 
Through the PFSDCs, in addition to their functions, implement the 
4 
following: 
5 
(a) Encourage, promote and organize local sports competitions 
6 
within their respective jurisdictions; 
7 
(b) Recruit, train, and select athletes who will participate in the 
8 
PNG; and 
9 
(c) Develop and maintain a pool of local athletes and provide them 
10 
with the necessary assistance; 
11 
iii. 
For provincial and city PFSDCs: 
12 
(a) Register an athlete in sporting events of the PNG, including its 
13 
regional and cluster qualifying competitions; and 
14 
(b) Be responsible for the entire delegation registered in the PNG, 
15 
and ensure their athletes' compliance with the PNG's eligibility 
16 
rules. 
17 
(h) POC and PPC: 
18 
i. 
Supervise the NSAs involved in the PNG. 
19 
(i) NSAs: 
20 
i. 
Set the qualifications for athletes and athletes with disabilities who 
21 
will be participating in different sporting events, based on the 
22 
international federations’ rules and regulations; 
23 
ii. 
Provide technical assistance in the conduct of their respective 
24 
sports competitions in the PNG, including the appointment of 
25 
qualified officiating officials; and 
26 
iii. 
Allow the participation of all national athletes, registered by the 
27 
PFSDCs, regardless of their membership status with their 
28 
respective NSAs: Provided, That the athlete conforms and agrees 
29 
to abide by the competition rules and regulations of their respective 
30 
NSAs and PNG; and Provided, further, That the athlete is not under 
31 
any disciplinary sanction, or is otherwise suspended by the 
32 


13 
 
concerned NSA or international federation, consistent with the rules 
1 
of their respective sports; and 
2 
(j) National Youth Commission: 
3 
i. Promote and disseminate the program and activities of the PNG to 
4 
all youth organizations and youth-serving organizations; 
5 
ii. Encourage the youth, especially the out-of-school youth and youth 
6 
with special needs, to actively participate in the conduct of the PNG 
7 
in various roles possible; and 
8 
iii. Coordinate with various agencies in the implementation of this Act. 
9 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation 
10 
of this Act shall be included in the budget of the PSC in the annual General 
11 
Appropriations Act. 
12 
 
13 
The LGUs shall set aside from any available local revenue an amount deemed 
14 
appropriate for the preparation, training, and participation of the athletes in the 
15 
PNG. 
16 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days 
17 
from the start of the effectivity of this Act, the PSC, in coordination with the DILG, 
18 
DepEd, CHED, POC, the PPC, the LPP, the LCP, the LMP, the LnB, the NSAs, and 
19 
the COCOPEA, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the 
20 
provisions of this Act. 
21 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held 
22 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force 
23 
and effect. 
24 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – Section 2 of Executive Order No. 63, series 
25 
of 1993, is hereby amended. 
26 
All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, and rules and regulations 
27 
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, 
28 
modified, or repealed accordingly.  
29 
SEC. 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from 
30 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
31 
Approved, 


14