Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Constitution mandates the State to promote physical education 
and sports, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of 
healthy and alert citizenry. In furtherance of this mandate there should be programs 
that will encourage the entire citizenry to participate in physical fitness and sports and 
excel on these programs because there are so many talents around who just need to be 
tapped and  trained.  
It is also observed that over the years, despite abundance in supposed 
good/potential athletes, the outcome of our athlete’s participation in international 
competitions like the ASIAN GAMES and the OLYMPIC GAMES have been dismal. 
The Philippines is always eager for medals. We recognize the efforts and capabilities 
of our athletes but the sad reality is that there is a perennial lack of funding in the 
training of our athletes and the lack of pool of adequately trained athletes. 
This proposed bill seeks to find a solution to this dilemma of Philippine sports 
by providing a structure for a truly integrated and comprehensive national sports 
program, linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports development and 
encourage all local government officials to promote the development of sports in the 
countryside covering all barangays, towns, municipalities, cities and provinces. This 
is also to encourage and assist various National Sports Association to promote their 
respective sports at the grassroots level providing the necessary linkages with local 
government units. 
As of today, what we have is a school-based “Palarong Pambansa” for public 
schools. However, its participation is limited to in-school athletes (students) in the 
primary and secondary levels. College and university students, out-of-school youths, 
graduates and professionals, who can be source for physically mature and competitive 
athletes, are absurdly excluded. While we have the UAAP and NCAA for private 
colleges and universities., more often than not, sports are not a priority for the athletes 
from these collegiate leagues. 
The “Palarong Pambansa,” the UAAP  and the  NCAA ,  only include sports 
that are regularly played in public schools. Other Olympic and Asian Games sports  
July 1, 2022
3:08 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING 
A 
COMPREHENSIVE 
NATIONAL 
SPORTS 
DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM 
CENTERED 
ON 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
NATIONAL GAMES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine 
National Games Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. – 
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being.  
It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their 
participation in public and civic affairs.  
The State also shall give priority to students in education, science and 
technology, arts, culture and sports in learning to foster patriotism and nationalism, 
and accelerate social progress.  
Furthermore, the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports 
programs, league competitions and amateur sports, including training for international 
competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development 
of a healthy and alert citizenry, and 
Finally, all education institutions shall undertake regular sports activities 
throughout the country in cooperation with athletic clubs and other sectors. 
SEC. 3. Objectives. –The objectives of the Philippine National Games are as 
follows: 
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(a)
To provide the structure for a truly integrated and comprehensive
national sports program linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports
development.
(b)
To serve as the government’s premier national sports competition to be
held once every two years.
(c)
To encourage all local government officials to promote the
development of sports in the countryside including all barangays, towns,
municipalities, cities and provinces.
(d)
To encourage and assist various National Sports Association in
promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level providing the
necessary linkages with local government units.
(e)
To encourage the entire citizenry to participate in physical fitness and
sports activities in furtherance of the Philippine Constitution’s mandate for
the State to promote physical education and sports, to foster self-discipline,
teamwork and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert
citizenry.
(f) To serve as the highest level of a unified sports promotion and
development program, bringing together in harmony and solidarity all
sectors in sports, public and private.  The Palarong Pambansa, and other
local sports competitions organized by the LGUs and/or the private sector,
shall serve as “feeder” and preparatory program for the PNG.
SEC. 4. Rationale. - This Act is necessary to institutionalize a truly 
comprehensive national grassroots sports program, that will develop the vast 
potentials of the citizenry in discovering and developing champion athletes who could 
excel in international competition, thus giving our country pride and international 
goodwill.  This Act is imperative as the desired situation is not addressed by the 
Palarong Pambansa (“PP”) or any other sports programs now in place. 
(a)
The PP is run by the Department of Education, thus limiting its
coverage to in-school youth, trained and entered by schools with no direct
participation of the local government units and the local elected officials
(b)
The PP only allows participation of in-school athletes ( students ) in
primary and secondary level.  College and university students, out-of-
school youths, graduates and professionals who can be source for
physically matured and competitive athletes are not included.
(c)
The PP program only includes sports that are regularly played in public
schools. Other Olympic and Asian Games sports which have proven to give
our country more medals in international competitions are not included in


the program.  Among these sports are billiards, bowling, fencing, 
weightlifting, shooting, rowing, and many more. 
(d)
The PP program requires a selection of athletes to represent a
geographical region.  The regional selection is headed by the DepEd
Regional Director, since the PP is a DepEd program.  The Governors, or
Mayors and the provinces or cities they represent are not directly involved.
These local elected officials therefore have no stake in the success or failure
of their regional team/delegation.
(e)
The PP sports officiating officials as well as the competition rules are
devised and approved by the DepEd, with little or no participation of the
National Sports Associations, which are the governing bodies of their
respective sports in the country.  These NSAs are accredited by their
International Sports Federations which in turn govern the sport and their
competitions worldwide.
SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. –As used in this Act, the following terms shall be 
understood to mean as follows: 
(a)
Grassroots Sports Development Program --refers to a system which
encourages and compels local government units (provinces, cities,
municipalities, barangays) and their officials to engage in sports activities
that would identify, recruit and train home-grown athletes
(b)
Elite Sports Development Program-- refers to the functions and
activities of National Sports Associations which are usually supported by
the national government through the Philippine Sports Commission, in
developing national athletes for and to represent the country in various
international competitions
SEC. 6. Coordinating Agencies and Instrumentalities. – In the implementation 
of this Act, the following government agencies, instrumentalities and entities are 
hereby mandated to coordinate various aspects thereof, to wit:  
(a)
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) - The PSC shall be the overall
coordinator of the national grassroots sports development program and the
governing body of the Philippine National Games program
(b)
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)- The DILG
shall be the supervising government body in charge of all the local
government units (LGUs) participating in the Philippine National Games
(c)
Local Government Units (LGUs) 
- The LGUs are the participating
provinces and cities (highly urbanized, special, independent and chartered)
given authority to participate in the Philippine National Games.  For this
purpose, the LGUs shall organize within their jurisdiction a multi-sectoral


 
 
group to serve as their Local Sports Council (LSC)with the right to have 
athletes participate  in the Games. 
 
 
(d) 
Department of National Defense (DND) 
- The DND shall be the 
supervising government body in charge of all the branches of the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines.  They shall be shall be recognized as an LSC 
authorized to have athletes (composed of military personnel) participate in 
the Philippine National Games. 
 
(e) 
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) 
- The POC shall be the 
supervising non-governmental body in charged of all the participating 
National Sports Association involved in the Philippine National Games. 
 
(f) National Sports Associations (NSAs) 
- 
The 
National 
Sports 
Associations are the governing bodies in charge of organizing the 
competitions of their respective sports in the Philippine National Games. 
 
SEC. 7. Organization and Structure. -  
 
(a) 
Role of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)- The PSC shall be 
the overall governing body of the Philippine National Games with the 
following authorities and responsibilities: 
 
a. To form an Executive Committee which shall decide on any issue 
regarding the PNG; 
 
b. To establish the PNG National Secretariat which shall serve as the 
nerve center for the day-to-day operations of the PNG; and 
 
c. To formulate the necessary policies and regulations that would 
govern the relationships among the organizations involved. 
 
(b) 
Role of the Local Sports Councils (LSC) - The LSCs are recognized 
by the PSC as having the authority and responsibility of developing athletes 
to be entered in the PNG, representing their respective LGUs or the AFP. 
 
a. They must have must their own distinct constituencies engaged in 
sports development, including recruitment and training and 
selecting athletes for participation in the PNG, and organizing local 
competitions in their respective jurisdictions; 
 
b. They shall have the sole authority for representation in the PNG and 
its corresponding regional and cluster qualifying competitions; 
 
c. The LSCs must have as Chairman the head (such as provincial 
governor or city mayor) of the LGU.  In the same token, the AFP 
Chief of Staff serves as the head of the LSC (composed of military 
personnel); 


 
 
d. The LSC must be responsible for the entire delegation it enters in 
the PNG, and ensures that its athletes comply with the eligibility 
rules of the Games; 
 
e. The name of the LSC must reflect the territory/LGU that it 
represents; and 
 
f. The LSC may enter any athlete in any event as may be allowed by 
the PNG rules provided said athlete is not under suspension or 
expelled by the concerned NSA for cause, consistent with the 
international rules of their sport. 
 
(c) 
Role of the National Sports Associations (NSA)  - The NSAs are 
the governing bodies for their respective sports in the Philippines as 
accredited by their International Federation and recognized by the 
Philippine Olympic Committee 
 
a. The NSAs shall be responsible for the technical operations of their 
respective competitions in the PNG including the appointment of 
qualified officiating officials; 
 
b. The NSA in coordination with the PSC and the host LSC, shall 
conduct the various regional or cluster qualifying competitions; 
 
c. The NSAs must allow the participation of all athletes entered by the 
LSCs regardless of their membership status with the NSA, 
provided: 
 
i. the athlete registers with the NSA local chapter or 
representative 
 
ii. the athlete conforms and agrees to abide by the competition 
rules and regulations of the NSA 
 
iii. 
the athlete carries the name and colors of the LSC he 
represents 
 
iv. 
the athlete carries the name and colors of the LSC 
v. The athlete is not presently under suspension or expelled by 
the NSA for cause, consistent with the international rules of 
their sport. 
SEC. 8. Participation Rules. -  
(a) 
Eligibility 
 


 
 
a. All Filipino, whether by birth or naturalized, and those permanently 
residing outside of the Philippines but are of Filipino ancestry and 
holders of Filipino passports shall be eligible, and 
 
b. To participate in the PNG, a competitor must comply with the 
eligibility rules of the PNG and the NSAs concerned, and must be 
entered by his LSC. 
 
(b) 
Representation 
 
a. All competitors must represent the LSC that entered his/her name in 
the PNG.  He/she shall represent this LSC at all times during the 
Games and shall not carry or promote other LSCs, organization 
,whether public or private; 
b. Should it be required that a regional or cluster qualifying 
competition be held to determine the qualified athlete/team that may 
be given the available slot/s for participation in the PNG, said 
athlete/team shall continue to carry and represent the same LSC that 
he originally represented; and 
c. No regional or cluster selection or representation shall be allowed in 
the PNG 
 
SEC. 9. Appropriation. – In order to provide the necessary funds required for 
the proper implementation of this program, the following funding shall be made 
available: 
 
(a) For the preparations, organization and operations of the biennial Philippine 
National Games, including the organization of the different regional and 
cluster qualifying competitions, the amount of Fifty Million pesos 
(Php50,000,000.00) annually shall be appropriated by the National 
Treasury, and will form part of the General Appropriation Fund of the 
Philippine Sports Commission.  This Fund shall include the cost of staging 
the PNG particularly the expenses covering the operations of the sports 
competitions including the expenses for competition officials and 
personnel, meal allowances and logistics for the accommodation and 
transportation of all participating athletes and team officials, purchase of 
necessary competition equipment, rental of venues for competition, opening 
ceremonies, and incentives and rewards for athletes and LSCs; and 
 
(b) For the preparation and training of the athletes, the LGUs shall be 
authorized to appropriate one percent (1% ) of their annual “Internal 
Revenue Allotment” and if the need arises charge  the amounts necessary 
to  their “Special Activity Fund” and/or  their “Special Education Fund”as 
may be allowed by existing laws.For this purpose, all LGUs shall also be 
allocated annually an additional IRA equivalent to one percent (1% ) 
thereof. 
 


 
 
 
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the 
Philippine Sports Commission shall jointly  issue the necessary rules and regulations 
for the implementation thereof. 
 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision shall remain valid and 
subsisting.  
 
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,