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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, EDVIC G. YAP, and 
JEFFREY SORIANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall give priority 
to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and 
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and 
development. 
Before all their triumphs, athletes go through extreme lengths and dedicate most of 
their years in training to be the best at what they do. They train under high-
expectations and high-intensity environments which makes them more vulnerable to 
exhaustion, burnout, physical injuries, and psychological distress.  
Recently, the Asia's Sprint Queen of the 1980's, Lydia De Vega, passed away following 
a long battle with cancer. She won multiple gold medals in the Asian Games and 
Southeast Asian Games for a decade. Before her passing, her family asked the public 
for prayers and donations as the retired sports star was diagnosed with breast cancer 
in 2018. 
This bill seeks to grant retirement, health care and death benefits to professional 
Filipino athletes who win world championship titles in international professional 
sports competitions or in other equally prestigious international games. It is high time 
that we support our athletes, not just at the podium, but even beyond all their glory.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
EDVIC G. YAP 
    JEFFREY SORIANO 
September 27, 2022
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, EDVIC G. YAP, and 
JEFFREY SORIANO 
AN ACT 
GRANTING RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE AND DEATH BENEFITS TO 
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 
TITLES IN INTERNATIONAL 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: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Professional Filipino 
Athletes Retirement, Health Care and Death Benefits Act of 2021.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall provide retirement, health care, 
and death benefits to professional Filipino athletes who win world championship 
titles in international professional sports competitions or in other equally prestigious 
world championship games, in both individual or team events, in recognition of the 
glory and honor they have bestowed to the country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
be defined as follows: 
a. Board - shall refer to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB);
b. Filipino Athlete - shall refer to professional athletes who are citizens of the
Philippines, except those enjoying dual citizenship by virtue of R.A. No. 9225 
otherwise known as the “Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003”; 
c. International Professional Sports Competitions - shall refer to international
bodies that are reorganized, accredited and have a mutual working relationship, 
agreement, and/or memorandum of understanding with the Board; 
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d. International Sporting Organizations - shall refer to international bodies that 
are recognized, accredited, and have a mutual working relationship, agreement, 
and/or memorandum of understanding with the Board;  
e. Other Equally Prestigious World Championship Games - shall refer to other 
international professional sports competitions that confer the same rank or stature 
as world championship titles and are recognized as such by the Board;  
 
f. Primary Beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the legitimate 
spouse and legitimate or illegitimate children;  
 
g. Professional Athlete - shall refer to any natural person who is paid a sum of 
money or other equivalent compensation as a salary or prize money for 
participating in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional sport, either as 
an individual contestant or a member of a team, under a contract entered into with 
a professional sports promoter/ operator or team owner and licensed by the Board;  
 
h. Professional Sports - shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contest, 
bouts, tournaments or competitions whereby the participating athlete is paid sums 
of money or other forms of compensation as regular salary or prize for 
participation, which are accredited and/or recognized by the Board; and  
 
i. Secondary beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the parents, 
and in their absence, to the brothers or sister of professional athletes.  
 
 
CHAPTER II 
RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE AND DEATH BENEFITS 
 
SEC. 4. Retirement Benefits. Professional Filipino Athletes, as defined under 
this Act, who win in international professional sports competitions shall, upon 
reaching the age of (50), receive the following retirement benefits: 
 
a. For Individual Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at least Fifteen 
Thousand Pesos (Php 15,000.00) for the individual winner; or  
 
b. For Team Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at least Ten Thousand Pesos 
(PhP 10,000.00) for each team member: Provided, That for athletes who win in 
individual and team events, the retirement benefits for individual events shall 
apply.  
 
Athletes who are actively employed at the time they reach the age of fifty (50) 
and have availed of the retirement benefits under this Act may continue with such 
employment: Provided, That the retirement benefits provided by existing laws or 
pursuant to existing company policies.  
 
SEC. 5. Health Care Benefits. Immediately upon winning in any international 
professional sports competitions, Professional Filipino Athletes shall be covered by 
the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance 


 
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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 athletes shall 
continue to be a member of the program, subject to existing rules and regulations of 
the PhilHealth.  
 
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): Provided, That the requirement for qualification and 
grant of the health care assistance to be extended by the PCSO shall be made consistent 
with and subject to compliance with PCSO’s existing rules and guidelines: Provided, 
further, That any qualified beneficiary shall have the option to waive the benefits 
mentioned under this Section.  
 
SEC. 6. Death Benefits. Upon the death of Professional Filipino Athlete, the 
primary beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum death benefit of Fifty Thousand 
Pesos (PhP 50,000.00) to cover funeral services/ expenses: Provided, That if there are 
no primary beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to said benefits.  
 
SEC. 7. Adjustment of Retirement Benefits. The Board is hereby authorized to 
adjust the retirement benefits provided in Section 4 hereof, based on studies, 
consultations and public hearings with relevant agencies and entities. However, no 
memorandum, order or issuance shall diminish the prescribed retirement benefits 
provided herein.  
 
 
CHAPTER III 
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. The Chairman of the Board shall immediately include 
in the Board’s program the implementation of the benefits under this Act, the funding 
of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
SEC. 9. Professional Filipino Athletes Welfare Development Trust Fund. – 
There shall be an independent and separate trust fund established under this Act, to 
be administered by the Board. An amount not less than eighty percent (80%) for the 
first five (5) years, accrued from the licensing, registration and accreditation fees, fines 
and charges shall be used for the purpose of the professional Filipino athletes’ welfare 
development trust fund. The fund shall be used for the continued upgrading of 
training facilities to conform with international standards, accreditation of, and other 
forms of assistance and support to the professional athlete’s sector. The trust fund may 
also accept grants and donations from national and foreign entities and individual 
interested in the professional athletes’ development.  
 
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Board within ninety (90) 
days, after the effectivity of this Act, through a technical working committee, and in 
consultation with the sectors concerned, shall promulgate and issue the implementing 


 
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rules and regulations for the full implementation of this Act: Provided, however, That 
copies of the formulated rules and regulations shall be submitted to the Committee 
on Games and Amusement of both Houses of Congress. Such rules and regulations 
shall take effect upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
SEC. 11. 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. 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act shall be held 
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. 13. 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.  
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,