/
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of (1'f &‘-n rtr
ftiirp
*22 NOV 21 PI :12
SENATE
S. No. 1523
RECEIVED BY,
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PRESERVING THE INDIGENOUS GAMES OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) declared that play is one of the 
most important tools on how children gain essential knowledge and skills. This was 
published in its report in 2018 which further said that "play opportunities and 
environments that promote play, exploration and hands-on learning are at the core of 
effective pre-primary programmes1." Furthermore, UNICEF affirms that playtime helps 
in building a strong psychological base for children. It develops their social and 
emotional skills.
In the Philippines, Filipinos have lived, enjoyed and mastered our home grown 
indigenous games. Indigenous games have shaped generations of Filipinos. 
Undoubtedly, these games have instilled values of camaraderie, teamwork and 
sportsmanship. Childhood is never the same without these indigenous games.
Indigenous games, such as patintero, iuksong tinik, taguan, sungka, sipa, are 
considered markers of our cultural heritage. Amid children's attachment to gadgets 
and digital entertainments, the call to preserve indigenous games, thus, inevitably 
arises.
This proposed measure seeks to do just that. It tasks the National Commission 
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in coordination with the Department of Education 
(DepEd), to initiate measures to preserve the traditional games in the country, among 
others.
To ensure the preservation of indigenous games in the Philippines, and our 
culture and heritage in general, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMOISKBONG REVILLA, JR.
1 October 2018. Learning Through Play. UNICEF Publications. Accessed:
https://www.unicef.oig/sites/default/files/2018-12/UNICEF-Leuo-Foiindation-Leamin^-throuuh-Plav.pdf


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
©ciiaie
o{ tilt
ttnr^
*22 NOV 21 PI :12
SENATE
S. No. 1523
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
PRESERVING THE INDIGENOUS GAMES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Philippine Indigenous
2 
Games Preservation Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article II, Section 22 of the 1987 Constitution
4 
provides that the State shall recognize and promote the rights of indigenous cultural
5 
communities within the framework of national unity and development. Furthermore,
6 
Article 31.1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
7 
enjoins all State signatories to take effective measures to recognize and to protect the
8 
exercise of the indigenous peoples' rights, which include the maintenance, control,
9 
and development of their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional
10 
expression, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games, among
11 
others.
12 
Pursuant to the aforesaid mandates, it is incumbent upon the State to lay down
13 
specific policy directives to promote the interest of our indigenous peoples and
14 
strengthen our cultural heritage and historical roots. The State shall take the
15 
necessary steps to preserve the indigenous peoples' games which serve as the best
16 
avenue for their self-expression, and for promoting peace, harmony, goodwill and
17 
camaraderie among them.
18 
Sec. 3. Indigenous Games. - The term "indigenous games" refer to the
19 
traditional sports and games or activities inherent to the different indigenous cultural
20 
communities that reflect the rich cultural heritage, traditions or customs handed down


1 
from generation to generation, such as tribal archery, blowpipe, sibat, dug-out canoe
2 
race, rock balancing, sumpit, sungka, kadang-kadang and other games distinct to the
3 
indigenous communities.
4 
Sec. 4. Annual Regional and National Indigenous Games. - The Philippine
5 
Sports Commission (PSC), in coordination with the Philippine Olympic Committee
6 
(POC) and the local government units (LGUs), shall conduct annual regional and
7 
national indigenous sports competitions.
8 
The host LGU, in consultation with the concerned indigenous cultural
9 
communities, shall have the prerogative to choose which sports shall be included in
10 
the regional and national indigenous sports competitions.
11 
Sec. 5. Other Means of Preserving the Indigenous Games. - The National
12 
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Commission on Indigenous
13 
Peoples (NCIP), the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), in coordination
14 
with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education
15 
(CHED), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall initiate measures to
16 
preserve indigenous games in the country, such as the inclusion of games as part of
17 
the curricula in the basic and higher education systems of schools, the production of
18 
documentary or other useful means, the conduct of regular demonstration of such
19 
useful means, and the conduct of regular demonstration of such games in the Paiarong
20 
Pambansa and in other national sports events, and in appropriate school activities.
21 
The NCCA shali likewise conduct research on the various sports traditionally
22 
played by different indigenous groups to ensure their preservation and development.
23 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The PSC and the POC as
24 
the lead agencies, in coordination with the NCCA, NCIP, DepEd, CHED, PIA, and LGUs,
25 
shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act
26 
within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.
27 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
28 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
29 
remain in full force and effect.
30 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
31 
executive orders, letter of instructions, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary


1 
to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or
2 
amended accordingly.
3 
Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
4 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
5 
circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,