NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
of fljp^ii'crttnij
23 AUG 15 P6:39
SENATE
S.B. No. 2408
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
NATIONAL GAMES AND
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The realm of sports is in a state of continual evolution, demanding athletes to 
strive to remain abreast of these progressive developments. However, various challenges 
emerge as impediments for athletes to keep pace with such advancements, prompting 
government intervention as a vital proponent to ensure the equitable treatment of all 
athletes. Government must assist in granting them accessible platforms that foster 
growth, venues for skill refinement, and opportunities that incentivize industrious efforts.
Article 14, Section 19 of the Constitution mandates that the state advocate physical 
education as well as Incentivize sports initiatives including league competitions, amateur 
sports, and training for international contests. This overarching objective aims to cultivate 
self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence thereby nurturing a vigilant and healthy 
populace. In line with this, all local government units are encouraged to undertake 
nationwide sports engagements in partnership with athletic clubs and other relevant 
sectors.
The primary objective of this measure Is the establishment of a cohesive and all- 
encompassing national sports program, strategically interlinking grassroots sports 
promotion with the progression of elite sports development. This framework concurrently 
serves as a platform for national sports associations to facilitate the propagation of their 
distinct sports initiatives at the grassroots level. Moreover, it endeavors to broaden the 
scope for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of athletes, thereby establishing 
a vigorous foundation for athletic potential.


The provisions in this measure advocate for the formal establishment of the 
Philippine National Games Act (PNG) for the purpose of highlighting the extensive 
potential inherent in Filipinos which will also pave the way for the discovery of the 
country's homegrown athletic talent. These games will serve as a vital platform for 
developing athletes the opportunity to exhibit their latent talents while also encouraging 
the youth to actively participate in such pursuits. Moreover, the bill aspires to stand as a 
testament to the principles of equality and inclusivity, reinforced by its commitment to 
affording paralympic competitions and athletes due recognition and equitable 
compensation, akin to their non-disabled counterparts. The commendable achievements 
of athletes with disabilities merit due recognition and honor which this bill seeks to 
address.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
N MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
of tl)c S^rnmi-y
23 AUG 15 P 6 39
SENATE
s.B. No. 2408
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
NATIONAL GAMES AND
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Philippine National
2 
Games Act of 2023."
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article IV, Section 19 (1) of the 1987
4 
Constitution provides that the State shall promote physical education and encourage
5 
sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for
6 
international sports competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for
7 
the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
8 
Pursuant thereto, it is incumbent upon the State to institutionalize a genuine
9 
comprehensive national grassroots sports program which serves as the country's premier
10 
national sports competition and venue for the nationwide talent search for identifying and
11 
developing outstanding athletes who have the potential to excel in various sports, and
12 
place the country at the forefront of international sports competitions.
13 
SEC. 3. Philippine National Games - There is hereby created a national
14 
grassroots sports program, hereinafter referred to as the Philippine National Games,
15 
which shall serve as the country's premier national sports competition and platform for
16 
the nationwide talent search in identifying and developing outstanding athletes who have
17 
the potential to excel in various sports, and place the country at the forefront of
18 
international sports competition.
19 
SEC. 4. Objectives- The objectives of the Philippine National Games (PNG) are
20 
as follows:
21 
(a) 
To provide a framework and structure for a truly integrated and
22 
comprehensive national sports program linking grassroots sports promotion
23 
to elite sports development;
24 
(b) To serve as the government's premier national sports competition to be
25 
held once every two years;
26 
(c) 
To encourage all local government units (LGUs) to promote the
27 
development of sports in the countryside covering all provinces, cities,
28 
municipalities, and barangays.


(d) To serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in 
promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level providing the 
necessary linkages with LGUs; and
(e) To serve as a feeder program for the pool of student-athletes who shall be 
given priority in the grant of full scholarship on secondary education 
program at the National Academy of Sports; and
(f) To widen the base for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of 
athletes that shall constitute the national pool to be trained for 
international sports competitions.
10
11
12
13
SEC. 5. Preparatory Sports Program. - The Palarong Pambansa provided for 
under Republic Act Number 10588, and other local sports competitions organized by the 
LGUs or the private sector, shall serve as "feeder" and preparatory sports program for 
the PNG.
14
15
16
SEC. 6. Establishment of the PNG Board. - A PNG Board, hereinafter referred 
to as the "Board", is hereby created as the lead policy-making and coordinating body for 
the preparation and conduct of the PNG.
17
18
SEC. 7. Membership of the Board. - The Board shall have seven (7) members 
composed of the following:
19
(a)
Executive Secretary
Chairperson
20
21
(b)
Secretary of the Department of the Interior
22
and Local Government (DILG)
Vice Chairperson
23
24
(c)
Chairperson of the Philippine Sports
25
Commission (PSC)
Secretary General
26
27
(d)
Secretary of the Department of
28
Education (DepEd)
Member
29
30
(e)
Chairperson of the Commission
31
on Higher Education (CHED)
Member
32
33
(0
Secretary of the Department
34
on National Defense (DND)
Member
35
36
(g)
President of the Philippine
37
Olympic Committee (POC)
Member


1 
SEC. 8. Functions and Duties of the Board — The Board shall perform the
2 
following functions and duties:
(a) To formulate policies and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the 
PNG, and the relationships among the organizations Involved;
(b) To form an Executive Committee which shall be headed by a Secretary 
General in-charge for the day-to-day operations of the PNG.
(c) To recognize the Local Sports Councils (LSCs) that shall be given authority 
to select the athletes and teams qualified to join in the PNG;
(d) To assign the venue and set the schedule of the PNG;
10
11
(e) The determine the sports to be included in the PNG, in addition to the list 
of mandatory sports enumerated under Section 10 of this Act;
12
13
(f) To establish an advisory council composed of public and private individuals, 
organizations or entities necessary for the success of the PNG;
14
(g) To create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee;
15
16
(h) To identify the regional or cluster qualifying competitions, including the 
qualifying standards, consistent with the rules of the respective NSAs;
17 
(i) 
To develop and recommend programs and policies that shall promote the
18 
PNG and ensure the support of the LGUs in the conduct of the PNG as the
19 
country's premier sports event;
20 
(j) 
To establish a mediation body, including its rules and procedures, to resolve
21 
disputes related to the conduct of PNG;
22 
(k) 
To provide incentives and rewards to host LGU and winning LSCs;
23 
(I) 
To enter into contracts or obligations essential for the accomplishment of
24 
its purposes and objectives;
25 
(m) To assess the conduct of PNG and submit an annual report to Congress;
26 
and
27 
(n) To exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the effective
28 
implementation of this Act.
29 
SEC. 9. Secretary GeneraL - The Chairman of the PSC shall serve as the
30 
Secretary General of the PNG.


1 
The Secretary General shall recommend to the Board the composition of the PNG
2 
Secretariat and all the activities undertaken by the latter, including the utilization of funds
3 
for the preparation, organization and conduct of the PNG. The Secretariat, which shall
4 
come from the existing personnel of the PSC, the DILG, the DepEd and the POC shall
5 
directly manage the conduct of the PNG.
6 
SEC. 10. Sports Events, - The official sports in the PNG shall include the
7
following:
8
(a)
Aquatics
9
(b)
Archery
10
(C)
Amis
11
(d)
Athletics
12
(e)
Badminton
13
(0
Baseball
14
(g)
Basketball
15
(h)
Billiards and Snookers
16
(i)
Bowling
17
a)
Boxing
18
(k)
Canoe-Kayak
19
(1)
Chess
20
(m)
Cycling
21
(n)
Dancesport
22
(0)
Esports
23
(P)
Fencing
24
(q)
Floorball
25
(r)
Football
26
(s)
Futsal
27
(t)
Golf
28
(u)
Gymnastics
29
(V)
Handball
30
(w)
Hockey
31
(X)
Jiu-Jitsu
32
(y)
Judo
33
(z)
Karate
34
(aa)
Lawn Tennis
35
(bb)
Modern Pentathlon
36
(cc)
Muay Thai


1
(dd)
Pencak Silat
2
(ee)
Petanque
3
(ff)
Rowing
4
(gg)
Rugby
5
(hh)
Sailing
6
(ii)
Sambo
7
aj)
Sepak Takraw
8
(kk)
Shooting
9
(II)
Skateboarding
10
(mm) Softball
11
(nn)
Soft Tennis
12
(00)
Squash
13
(PP)
Surfing
14
(qq)
Swimming
15
(rr)
Table Tennis
16
(ss)
Taekwondo
17
(tt)
Tennis
18
(uu)
Triathlon
19
(w)
Volleyball
20
(ww) Weighlifting
21
(XX)
Wrestling
22
(yy)
Wushu
23 
Provided, That the sports to be played in the PNG shall be aligned with the sports
24 
participated in by the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Olympics
25 
and other mandatory international sports competitions, including para games: Provided
26 
further, That mandatory sports events in the Olympics and Paralympic Games shall, as
27 
far as practicable, be included in the PNG, subject to the availability of sports facilities
28 
and venues of the host LGU: Provided finaiiy. That the host LGU may recommend local
29 
sports to promote and showcase its socioeconomic and cultural uniqueness through the
30 
PNG.
31 
SEC. 11. Roies of Concerned Agencies. - The following government agencies,
32 
instrumentalities and entities shall be tasked to perform the following roles and
33 
responsibilities:
34 
(a) PSC -
35
36 
(1) To carry out overall management, coordination and implementation of the
37 
PNG;
38 
(2) To provide manpower, technical resources and sports facilities; and


1 
(3) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.
2 
(b) DILG -
3 
(1) To mandate all LCDs to coordinate, cooperate and support the plans, programs
4 
and activities of the PNG through the issuance of corresponding orders, circulars,
5 
and guidelines within its jurisdiction to help carry out the objectives of the PNG;
6 
(2) To direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a
7 
comprehensive security plan for the LGU venues where the PNG shall be held; and
8 
(3) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the
9 
Board.
10 
(c) Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) -
11
12
(l)To oversee and ensure the implementation of plans on the safe conduct of the 
PNG in their respective localities;
13
14
(2) To assist in disseminating information on the PNG within their respective 
jurisdiction to encourage the active participation of their constituents;
15
(3) To recommend to the Board the priority sports in their respective localities; and
16
17
(4) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be delegated by the 
Board.
18 
(d) DepEd -
19
20
21
22
23
(1) To align the Palarong Pambansa calendar of activities, programs and policies 
to the conduct of the PNG;
(2) To allow the use of school buildings and classrooms as billeting centers;
(3) To allow DepEd teachers, who are licensed or accredited technical officials of 
the NSAs, to officiate in the games;
24 
(4) To issue appropriate orders, circulars, and guidelines within its jurisdiction to
25 
implement the objectives of the PNG; and
26 
5) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.
27 
(e) CHED -
28 
(1) To promote the program and activities of the PNG to all higher educational
29 
institutions;
30 
(2) To enjoin state universities and colleges the use of their school buildings and
31 
classrooms as billeting centers;
32 
(3) To issue memorandum orders on the alignment of tertiary sports events and
33 
calendar of activities to the PNG; and;


1 
(4) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.
2 
(f) DND -
3 
(l)To oversee and ensure the participation of military athletes in the PNG;
(2) To serve as the LSC which shall have the authority to accredit and allow 
qualified military athletes and participate in the PNG;
(3) To issue appropriate orders, circulars, and guidelines within its jurisdiction to 
implement the objectives of the PNG; and
9
10
(4)To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be delegated by the 
Board.
11 
(g) LG Us -
12 
(1) To organize within their jurisdiction a multi-sectoral group to serve as their LSC
13 
which shall have the authority to accredit and to allow athletes to participate in
14 
the PNG;
15 
(2) To assist LSCs in the Identification, recruitment, and training of gifted and
16 
talented athletes within their respective localities;
17 
(3) To organize local competitions within their respective jurisdictions to ensure a
18 
wide base for the selection of national athletes who will compete in the PNG; and
19 
(4) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the
20 
Board.
21 
(h) POC -
22 
(1) To supervise all participating NSAs involved in the PNG; and
23 
(2) To perform such other duties and 
responsibilities as may be assigned by the
24 
Board.
25 
(i) NSAs -
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
(1) To set the qualifications for athletes participating in different events based on 
their international federations' rules and regulations;
(2) To provide technical assistance in the conduct of their respective sports 
competitions in the PNG, including the appointment of qualified officiating officials;
(3) To conduct regional or cluster qualifying competitions, as may be required by 
any sports association, in coordination with the PSC and the host LSC; and
(4) To allow the participation of all athletes, including national athletes, entered 
by the LSCs regardless of their membership status with their respective NSAs: 
Provided, That:


1 
i. The athlete conforms and agrees to abide by the competition rules and
2 
regulations of their respective NSAs and the PNG; and
3 
ii. The athlete is not under any disciplinary sanction, or otherwise suspended
4 
by the concerned NSA or International Federation, consistent with the rules
5 
of their respective sports.
6 
SEC. 12. The LSCs. -The LSCs organized by their respective LCDs shall be headed
7 
by the provincial governor, the city or municipal mayor, or the barangay chairperson. For
8 
purposes of this Act, the LSC shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
9
10
(a) To encourage, promote and organize local sports competitions within their 
respective jurisdictions;
11
12
(b)To recruit, train, and select athletes who shall participate in the PNG and its 
corresponding regional and cluster qualifying competitions;
13
14
(c) To develop and maintain a pool of local athletes and provide them with the 
necessary assistance;
15
16
(d)To be responsible for the entire delegation entered in the PNG, and ensure the 
compliance of their athletes with the eligibility rules of the PNG;
17
18 
19
(e)To select an athlete in any sports event subject to PNG rules, provided said 
athlete is not under any sanction by the concerned NSA or International 
Federation; and
20 
(f) To give athletes the authority to represent their respective LSC in the PNG and
21 
corresponding regional and cluster qualifying competitions.
22 
SEC. 13. Participation Ruies. -To participate in the PNG, all athletes shall be
23 
governed and must comply the following rules:
24 
(a) Eligibility
25 
(1) All Filipinos by birth, including those residing outside of the Philippines
26 
but are of Filipino ancestry, shall be eligible to participate in the PNG;
27 
(2) The qualifying age for different sports events shall be determined by
28 
the NSAs based on their international federations' rules and regulations;
29 
and
30
31
32
33
34
(3) Compliance with other eligibility rules and regulations that may be 
prescribed by the PNG, LSC and concerned NSA.
(b) Representation
(1) Athletes shall, at all times, represent only the LSC that entered its name 
in the PNG or in any regional or cluster qualifying competitions;


1 
(2) No athlete shall likewise be allowed to carry, represent or promote any
2 
public or private organization, enterprise or sponsor in the PNG.
3 
SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
4 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the PSC.
5 
Thereafter, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
6 
Act.
7 
The LGUs shall set aside from any available local revenue an amount deemed
8 
appropriate for the preparation, training and participation of the athletes In the PNG.
9 
SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The PSC shall, in
10 
coordination with the DILG, DepEd, CHED, ULAP, POC, and NSAs, promulgate the rules
11 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days after its
12 
effectivity.
13 
SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid
14 
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
15 
SEC. 17. Repealing Cause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules
16 
and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed
17 
amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
18 
SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,