FOURTEENTH CONGRFSS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to extend monthly pensions and other privileges to boxers and other 
athletes who became world champions at one time in their lives. 
Athletes, especially boxers, risk lives and limbs in order to give honor and glory to their 
motherland. Boxers in particular go to the rings unmindful of danger to themselves, but 
only armed with the thought that what they are doing redounds not only to their benefit 
but to the country as well. Inside the ring, however, anything could happen - the boxer 
loses his sight, even consciousness and ultimately his life. Hence, woe to the champion 
who became incapacitated or even died without seeing any financial reward in case of 
incapacity or death. 
The prestige that boxing great Manny Pacquiao, our very own compatriot from General 
Santos City, has brought to the country in the international arena cannot be 
overemphasized. Undoubtedly, he has restored the Philippines in the world boxing map, 
earning the adulation and respect not only of his countrymen but of boxing aficionados 
all over the world. 
We not only excel in boxing but in other sports as well. Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros- 
Posadas, the bowling hall-of-famer Paeng Nepomuceno - all are world- or regional- class 
champions themselves. The list is endless but our memories are short. 
But champions are champions. They deserve something better than a mere pat in the back 
or the adulation of his countrymen. They ought to receive something tangible when all 
the admiring glances and shrieking sounds are gone. 
The cases of former Filipino world boxing champions Roland0 Navarette and Luisito 
Espinosa are cases in point. Navarette is reduced to the life of a pauper-dependent on 
charitable gestures from his countrymen for his existence and for his medical expenses. 
Luisito Espinosa is forced to fight mediocre fights just so he could survive in a far away 
land (the United States). Alone and abandoned, they are left with nothing to themselves. 
Something needs to be done. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to grant a monthly pension of Fifteen Thousand Pesos 
(Pl5,OOO.OO) to former world champions upon retirement at age 50 or who became 
incapacitated in pursuing their careers. Likewise, this bill shoulders the hospitalization 
and medical expenses of said athletes at not more than Two Hundred Thousand 
(P200,OOO.OO) Pesos per hospitalization. 
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In view of the foregoing circumstances, approval of this bill is urgently requested. 
$$--L 
A T NIOF.TRILLANESIV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
GRANTING RETIREMENT INCENTIVE AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO 
PROFESSIONAL FLLIPINO ATHLETES WE0 FIAVE WON WOIUD TITLES 
OR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Filipino Professional 
Athletes Retirement Incentive and Health Care Benefits Act of 2007". 
SEC.2. Declaration of Policy.- The State shall provide retirement incentive and 
health care benefits to professional Filipino athletes, who have won World Titles or 
World Championships, and who in their twilight years are unable to provide for 
themselves and their families economically, and are therefore marginalized despite the 
glory and honor they earned for their country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows: 
(a) Professional Athlete. - shall refer to any natural person who is paid a sum of 
money and other 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 
member of a team under a contract entered into with a professional sports 
promoter/operator or team owner and licensed by the Games and Amusements Boar4 
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(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) Professional Sport. - shall refer to an individual or team sport, games, contest, 
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 conducted with the required permits duly issued by the Games and Amusements 
Board; 
(d) International competitions. - shall refer to international sports competitions, 
including Regional Championships, which are accredited and duly recognized by the 
Games and Amusements Board; 
(e) Recognized sporting international organizations. - shall refer to international 
bodies that are recognized, accredited, have mutual working relationship , agreement, 
and/or memorandum of understanding with the Games and Amusements Board. 
SEC. 4. Retirement Incentive Benefits. - Professional Filipino athletes who have 
won individual or team world titleshhampionships in any international sports 
competitions duly sanctioned by recognized international sporting organizations and 
bodies shall receive the following retirement incentive benefits: 
a. Any individual who have won world titleh or championshiph shall 
receive a lifetime retirement incentive of Fifteen Thousand Pesos 
(P15,OOO) monthly upon reaching the age of fifty (50). 
b. Each member of a team who has won a world title or championship in 
any team sporting event shall receive a lifetime retirement incentive of 
Ten Thousand Pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) monthly upon reaching the age of 
fi@ (50). 
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Provided, however, that only those athletes who at the time of their retirement 
earns less than the minimum daily wage as prescribed by the National Wages and 
Productivity Commission, shall be entitled to the retirement incentive benefits provided 
herein. 
Provided, further, that athletes who are actively employed upon reaching the age 
of 50 and have availed of the retirement incentive benefits may continue with such 
employment until the mandatory retirement age under existing laws. 
SEC. 5. Health Care Benefits. - A Professional athlete who has won in an 
international sports competition shall be covered by the National Health Insurance 
Program as provided under RA 7875, as amended, within two months upon conferment 
of the award. 
In case of hospitalization in any government hospital or clinic, any amount in 
excess of PHILHEALTH benefit shall be shouldered by the Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), provided that the athlete shall comply with the requirements 
as prescribed by the PCSO. Provided, further, that the PCSO shall shoulder only a 
maximum of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,OOO) per hospitalization. 
SEC. 6. Retroactive Effect. - The benefits provided under this Act shall retroact 
to all living professional athletes who have won in any international sports event after 
complying with the requirements that shall be prescribed by the GAB in its Implementing 
Rules and Regulations. 
SEC.7. Adjustment of Retirement Incentive Benefits. - The Games and 
Amusements Board is hereby authorized to adjust the retirement incentive 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 incentive benefits. 
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SEC. 8. Funding. - The amount necessary for the implementation of the 
retirement incentive benefits shall be taken from the net cash income of the Philippine 
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). For this purpose, the GAB shall 
submit to the PAGCOR an annual budget, together with a certified list of actual 
beneficiaries of the program, for the proper disbursement of funds. Such funds shall be 
subject to the usual government accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shall provide the necessary 
funds as provided under Section 5 hereof. 
The necessary funding for the PHILHEALTH coverage of the qualified 
professional athletes shall be charged to the current appropriations of the Games and 
Amusements Board. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its continued 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Games and Amusements 
Board, in coordination with concerned agencies shall promulgate and issue the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act. 
SEC. 10. 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. 
SEC. 11. 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. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least three (3) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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