Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
GRANTING HEALTH CARE, RETIREMENT, AND DEATH BENEFITS TO PROFESSIONAL 
FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN INTERNATIONAL 
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS OR OTHER EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS 
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines consistently earns respect and adulation from all over the world due to the championships 
won by our professional athletes with world-class talents.  
Among those are Gabriel Elorde, Luisito Espinosa, John Riel Casimero, Nonito Donaire, and Senator 
Emmanuel Pacquiao in the boxing arena; Lydia de Vega and Elma Murosa-Posadas in Track and Field; 
Rafael Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, and Rubilen Amit in Billiards; and Eugene Torre in Chess.  
Most sports are physical in nature and many of our Filipino athletes risk their lives to become champions. 
Unlike other career professionals, the career lifespan of a professional athlete is short. Many do not reach 
the age of 40 before retiring, giving way to the much younger and stronger athletes. Some are forced to 
retire because they have passed the height of their careers. Others are just given bad breaks in life after 
winning a tie.  
This bill seeks to provide health care and retirement privileges and death benefits to professional Filipino 
athletes who win world championship titles in international professional sports competitions or other equally 
prestigious world championship games, and who have given honor, glory, and pride to the Philippines, in 
both individual and team events through the following: (a) extend medical insurance and medical assistance 
to hospitalized professional Filipino champions, (b) grant a monthly pension of P15,000.00 to individual 
world champions at the retirement age of 50 years, and (c) death benefits to help in funeral 
services/expenses. 
This bill recognizes the honor, glory, and pride professional Filipino athletes have given our country, and 
also reassures them that their efforts are not forgotten. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the Filipino 
people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 16, 2022
1:08 pm
4907


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
GRANTING HEALTH CARE, RETIREMENT, AND DEATH BENEFITS TO PROFESSIONAL 
FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES IN INTERNATIONAL 
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS OR OTHER EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS 
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 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 Health Care, 
Retirement and Death Benefits Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State shall provide health care, retirement, and death benefits 
to professional Filipino athletes who win world championship titles in international professional sports 
competitions or other equally prestigious world championship games, in both individual and team events, 
in recognition of the glory and honor they bestowed to the Philippines. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as 
follows: 
a.
Professional Filipino athletes shall refer to athletes who are Filipino citizens and paid a sum of
money or other compensation as a salary or prize money for participating in a game, but,
tournament, or contest of professional sport, either as an individual contestant or as a member of
a team under a contract entered into with a professional sports promoter/operator or team owner
and licensed by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB);
b.
Professional sports shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contests, bouts, tournaments,
or competitions whereby the participating athlete is paid sums of money and other forms of
compensation as regular salary or prize for participation, which are accredited and recognized by
the GAB;
c.
International professional sports competitions shall refer to international compensations that confer
world championship titles in both individual and team events which are duly sanctioned and
recognized by international sporting organizations and bodies and accredited by the GAB;
d.
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 GAB.
SECTION 4. Health Care Benefits. – Professional Filipino athletes shall be covered by the National 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), through a special program sponsored by the GAB, which will 
provide the required local government premium counterpart to be directly remitted to PhilHealth. Upon 
reaching the age of fifty (50), the athlete shall be an honorary member of the program, subject to existing 
rules and regulations of PhilHealth.  
4907


In case of hospitalization of the professional Filipino athlete in any hospital or clinic, any amount over 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 the 
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.  
 
SECTION 5. Retirement Benefits. – Professional Filipino athletes as defined under this Act, who win in 
international professional sports competitions shall, upon reaching the age of fifty (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; 
B. For team sports 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 both 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 
retirement benefits under this Act may continue with such employment: Provided, That the retirement 
benefits under this Act shall be separate and distinct from the mandatory retirement benefits provided by 
existing laws.  
 
SECTION 6. Death Benefits. – Upon the death of the 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 the said benefits.  
 
For purposes of this Act, the primary beneficiaries shall refer to a legitimate spouse, legitimate or illegitimate 
children. Secondary beneficiaries shall refer to the parents, and in their absence, to the brothers or sisters 
of the professional Filipino athlete.  
 
SECTION 7. Retroactive Effect. – The benefits provided under this Act shall retroact to all living 
professional Filipino athletes who, before the enactment of this Act, have won in any international 
professional sports competition, upon compliance with the requirements that shall be prescribed by the 
GAB in its Implementing Rules and Regulations: Provided, That the winning professional Filipino athlete 
was duly licensed by the GAB at the time of the competition and the sports events participated in was 
recognized and accredited by the GAB.  
 
SECTION 8. Adjustment of Retirement Benefits. – The adjustment in retirement benefits provided in 
Section 5 hereof may be authorized, subject to the approval of the President, upon the joint 
recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Chairman 
of the GAB, based on studies, consultations and public hearings with relevant agencies, entities, and 
concerned athletes or coaches. However, no memorandum, order, or issuance shall diminish the prescribed 
retirement benefits.  
 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. – The Chairman of the GAB 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.  
 


SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The GAB, in consultation with the Senate, the 
House of Representatives, and other concerned agencies, shall promulgate and issue the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act.  
 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or 
invalid, other provisions, which are not affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations 
or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
modified accordingly. 
  
SECTION 13. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette and at least one newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,