NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 932
1$^ Senate
of tlje
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RECEiVEBBY:__^ 
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Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES 
TO NATIONAL ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT 
FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The historic win of Hidilyn Diaz at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo brought 
the Philippines its first-ever Olympic gold medal. But prior to this, she has consistently 
and continuously made the Philippines proud by being the youngest contender at the 
2008 Beijing Olympics at the age of 17, bringing home the Philippines’ first Olympic 
medal in 20 years at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the first gold medal at the 2018 Asian 
Games held in Indonesia, among other accolades.
At present, the Philippines has won 14 medals in the Olympics;
a) Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting) - Gold (2020 Tokyo), Silver (2016 Rio);
b) Carlo Paalam (boxing) - Silver (2020 Tokyo);
c) Eumir Marcial (boxing) - Silver (2020 Tokyo);
d) Nesthy Petecio (boxing) — Silver (2020 Tokyo);
e) Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco (boxing) — Silver (1996 Atlanta);
f) 
Roel Velasco (boxing) — Bronze (1992 Barcelona);
g) Leopoldo Serantes (boxing) — Bronze (1988 Seoul);
h) Anthony Villanueva (boxing) — Silver (1964 Tokyo);
i) 
Miguel White (athletics) — Bronze (1936 Berlin);
j) 
Jose Villanueva (boxing) — Bronze (1932 Los Angeles);
k) Simeon Toribio (athletics) - Bronze (1932 Los Angeles); and
l) 
Teodoro Yidefonso (swimming) — Bronze. (1932 Los Angeles), Bronze 
(1928 Amsterdam).
Recently, on July 17, 2022, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team


secured a spot at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a first in Philippine football 
history. On July 24, pole vaulter EJ Obiena took home the bronze medal in the World 
Athletics Championship to become the first Filipino to win a medal in the world 
championships.1
Behind their achievements are innumerable stories of hard work and 
perseverance. This is no less true with other sports heroes in various disciplines of 
athletics, who have devoted their lives to honing their craft and bringing honor to the 
country.
Thus, to recognize outstanding athletes who serve as inspiration to countless 
Filipinos in the field of sports, this bill seeks to grant distinctive honors and privileges 
to Filipino sports heroes. The bill also seeks to establish a Sports Endowment Fund, 
which shall be used to provide lifetime emoluments to National Athletes, as well as 
support for the needs of awardees so they can continue to participate in local as well 
as international sports competitions as Philippine delegates.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
1 July 25, 2022. EJ Obiena resets Asian record to claim historic bronze in World Athletics Championships. Rappler. Available at 
https://www.rappler.com/sporis/finals-results-ei-obiena-world-athletics-championships-iulv-24-2022/ (date last accessed. July 
26, 2022).


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
s. B. NO. 932
gsenate
* 
of llie
*221 JUL 28 P3
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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AN ACT
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES 
TO NATIONAL ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT 
FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, 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 "Bayaning Atletang 
Filipino Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
promote excellence in the field of sports and foster the values of sportsmanship, 
patriotism, and nationalism in order to support nation-building and development.
SEC. 3. The Order of National Athletes. - There is hereby established the 
Order of National Athletes (Orden ng mga Pambansang Atleta) which shall be the 
highest honor the Government of the Philippines shall confer to its outstanding 
sports heroes who have brought immense pride and honor to the country and have 
dedicated their lives towards the advancement of their sports.
The Order shall be under the National Orders of Cultural and Scientific Merit 
pursuant to Executive Order No. 236, S. 2003. It shall be administered by the Komite 
ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino, otherwise known as the Komite, created under 
Section 6 of this Act, and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon 
recommendation by the Committee.
Awardees of the Order of National Athletes shall enjoy the following 
privileges:
a) The rank and title of National Athlete, as proclaimed by the President of 
the Philippines:


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b) 
The National Athlete medallion and citation;
c) 
Lifetime emolument and material benefits, such as:
1) 
A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of taxes for 
living awardees;
2) 
A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of taxes for 
posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s;
3) 
A monthly life pension and medical and hospitalization benefits;
4) 
Life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable;
5) 
A place of honour in state functions, national commemoration 
ceremonies, and ail other sports and cultural events; and,
6) 
A state funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of which 
shall be borne by the Government, upon the death of the National 
Athlete.
SEC. 4. The National Medal of Excellence in Sports. - There is hereby 
established the National Medal of Excellence in Sports (Pambansang Medalya ng 
Katangi-tanging Husay sa Isports) for outstanding individuals and team 
achievements in international sports competitions. The President of the Philippines 
shall confer the National Medal of Excellence in Sports upon recommendation by the 
Committee.
SEC. 5. The Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship. - There is hereby 
established the Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship (Gawad Balangay) for heroic 
sportsmanship shown by athletes during international and local competitions 
exemplifying the values of honesty, fairness, selflessness, sacrifice, amity and good 
will. The President of the Philippines shall confer the Balangay Medal for 
Sportsmanship upon recommendation by the Committee.
SEC. 6. Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino. - The Komite ng Bayaning 
Atletang Filipino shall be under the Office of the President, and shall be composed of 
the following:
a) 
Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), as Chairman;
b) 
Secretary of the Department of Education or an authorized 
representative, as Member;
c) 
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education or an authorized 
representative, as Member;
d) 
President of the Philippine Olympic Committee or an authorized 
representative, as Member;


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e) 
Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission or an authorized 
representative, as Member;
f) 
Chairperson of the National Youth Commission or an authorized 
representative, as Member; and
g) 
Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or 
an authorized representative, as Member.
For the purposes of this Act, all authorized representatives shall have at least 
the rank of Assistant Secretary.
SEC. 7. Role and Function of the Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino. - 
The Komite shall approve the criteria, standards, nomination and selection 
processes, and benefits and privileges of the recipients of the awards under this Act.
SEC. 8. National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes. - There is hereby 
established a National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes to exclusively fund the 
benefits provided in this Act and to support the continuous trainings of all the 
awardees and their participation or exposure in international competitions.
a) 
The amount of One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby 
appropriated as seed money of the Endowment Fund: Provided, That 
no grant shall be awarded by the Komite except from the interest drawn 
from the Fund; Provided, further, That no grant shall be awarded until 
after one (1) year from the organization of the Fund;
b) 
Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the 
Fund at their discretion, but not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of their 
unimpaired surplus;
c) 
The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from the donations and 
other conveyances, including funds, materials, property, and services, 
by gratuitous title;
d) 
Contribution to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax purposes in 
accordance with the provisions of Section 34 (h)(2)(a) of the National 
Internal Revenue Code, as amended;
e) 
For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Committee 
shall appoint a reputable government-accredited investment institution 
as Fund Manager, subject to the guidelines promulgated by the Komite;
f) 
The Committee shall be the administrator of the Fund, and as such, 
shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision-making 
mechanisms, subject to the following:
1) Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only earnings of 
private contributions shall be used;


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2) 
No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof, 
shall be used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration:
3) 
The Committee shall organize a separate staff to be headed by a 
comptroller appointed by and directly responsible and accountable 
to the Komite; and
4) 
There shall be an external auditor that will perform an annual audit 
of the Fund’s performance.
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Komite shall promulgate the rules and regulations 
for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount of One billion pesos 
(P1,000,000,000.00) to serve as seed money of the National Endowment Fund for 
Sports Heroes as provided in Section 8 of this Act is hereby appropriated. The 
amount necessary for initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the 
current year's appropriations of the Philippine Sports Commission. Thereafter, such 
appropriations necessary for the continuation and enhancement of the program shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 11. Separability. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be 
in full force and effect.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative 
orders, and parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby 
repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - 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,