TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
jiJL-8 P5:29
SENATE 
S. No.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES TO NATIONAL 
ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND FOR SPORTS 
HEROES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipino athletes continue to score historic wins, gain international prominence 
and dominate global sporting events. Recently, a number of exemplary Filipino 
athletes, such as Carlos Yulo and Hidilyn Diaz, competing under the national flag, 
brought home top honors, distinct recognitions and medals from different 
competitions, contributing to the growing source of national pride.
Behind the successes and achievements are stories of hardships and countless 
sacrifices each athlete had to endure in order to make their own mark and bring home 
the bacon.
Thus, in recognizing the contributions of these exceptionai athletes, this bill 
seeks to grant distinctive honors and privileges to them. This bill likewise aims to 
establish the National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes, which shall be exclusively 
used to fund the benefits provided under this Act and to support the continuous 
training of all the awardees and their participation or exposure in international
competitions.
In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
2b JUL-8 P5:29
\
SENATE
S. No.__252.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
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:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the "Bayaning Atietang Pinoy
2 
Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -It is the declared policy of the State to promote
4 
excellence in the field of sports and foster the values of sportsmanship, patriotism,
5 
and nationalism in order to support nation-building and development.
6 
Sec. 3. The Order of National Athletes. -There is hereby established the Order
7 
of National Athletes (Orden ng mga Pambansang Atleta) which shall be the highest
8 
honor the Government of the Philippines shall confer to its outstanding sports heroes
9 
who have brought immense pride and honor to the country and have dedicated their
10 
lives towards the advancement of their sports.
11 
The Order shall be under the National Orders of Cultural and Scientific Merit
12 
pursuant to Executive Order No. 236, S. 2003. It shall be administered by the Komite
13 
ng Bayaning Atietang Filipino, otherwise known as the Komite, created under Section
14 
6 of this Act, and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation
15 
by the Committee.
16 
Awardees of the Order of National Athletes shall enjoy the following privileges:


1 
a) The rank and title of National Athlete, as proclaimed by the President of the
2 
Philippines;
3 
b) The National Athlete medallion and citation;
4 
c) Lifetime emoiuments and materiai benefits, such as:
5 
i) A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of taxes for
6 
living awardees;
7 
ii) A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of taxes for
8 
posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s;
9 
Hi) A monthly life pension and medicai and hospitaiization benefits;
10 
iv) Life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable;
n 
v) A place of honor in state functions, national commemoration
12 
ceremonies, and aii other sports and cultural events; and,
13 
vi) A state funeral, the arrangements for and the expense of which shall
14 
be borne by the Government, upon the death of the National Athlete.
15 
Sec. 4. The National Medal of Excellence in Sports. - There is hereby
16 
estabiished the Nationai Medal Excellence in Sports (Pambansang Medalya ng Katangi-
17 
tanging Husay sa Isports) for outstanding individuals and team achievements in
18 
internationai sports competitions. The President of the Phiiippines shall confer the
19 
National Medal of Excellence in Sports upon recommendation by the Committee.
20 
Sec. 5. The Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship. -There is hereby established
21 
the Baiangay Medal for Sportsmanship (Gawad Baiangay) for heroic sportsmanship
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shown by athletes during internationai and iocal competitions exemplifying the vaiues
23 
of honesty, fairness, selflessness, sacrifice, amity and good wiii. The President of the
24 
Philippines shall confer the Baiangay Medal for Sportsmanship upon recommendation
25 
by the Committee.
26 
Sec. 6. Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino. — The Komite ng Bayaning
27 
Atletang Filipino shaii be under the Office of the President, and shaii be composed of
28 
the following:
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a) Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), as Chairman;
3Q 
b) Secretary of the Department of Education or an authorized representative,
31 
as Member;


1 
c) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education or an authorized
2 
representative, as Member;
3 
d) President of the Philippine Olympic Committee or an authorized
4 
representative, as Member;
5 
e) Chairperson of Athletes' Commission or an authorized representative, as
6 
Member;
7 
f) Chairperson of the National Youth Commission or an authorized
8 
representative, as Member;
9 
g) Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or an
10 
authorized representative, as Member.
11 
For the purposes of this Act, all authorized representatives shall have at least
12 
a rank of Assistant Secretary.
13 
Sec. 7. Role and Function of the Komite ng Bayaning Atietang Filipino. - The
14 
Komite shall approve the criteria, standards, nomination and selection processes, and
15 
benefits and privileges of the recipients of the awards under this Act.
16 
Sec. 8. National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes. - There is hereby
17 
established a National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes to exclusively fund the
18 
benefits provided in this Act and to support the continuous training of all the awardees
19 
and their participation or exposure in international competitions.
20 
a) The amount of One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby
21 
appropriated as seed money of the Endowment Fund: Provided, That no
22 
grant shall be awarded by the Komite except from the interest drawn from
23 
the Fund: Provided, further. That no grant shall be awarded until after one
24 
(1) year from the organization of the Fund;
25 
b) Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants to the Fund
26 
at their discretion, but not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) 
of their
27 
unimpaired surplus;
28 
c) The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from the donations and other
29 
conveyances, including funds, materials, property, 
and services, 
by
30 
gratuitous title;


1 
d) Contribution to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax purposes in
2 
accordance with the provisions of Section 34 (h)(2)(a) of the National
3 
Internal Revenue Code, as amended;
4 
e) For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Committee shall
5 
appoint a reputable government-accredited investment institution as Fund
6 
Manager, subject to the guidelines promulgated by the Komite;
7 
f) The Committee shall be the administrator of the Fund, the Committee shall
8 
appoint a reputable government-accredited investment institution as Fund
9 
Manager, subject to the guidelines promulgated by the Komite;
10 
i) Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only earnings of
11 
private contributions shall be used;
12 
ii) No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof,
13 
shall be used to underwrite overhead expenses for administration;
14 
iii) The Committee shall organize a separate staff to be headed by a
15 
comptroller appointed by and directly responsible and accountable to
16 
the Komite; and
17 
iv) There shall be an external auditor that will perform an annual audit
18 
of the Fund's performance.
19 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations- Within ninety (90) days from the
20 
effectivity of this Act, the Komite shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the
21 
effective implementation of this Act.
22 
Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount of One billion pesos
23 
(P1,000,000,000.00) to serve as seed money of the National Endowment Fund for
24 
Sports Heroes as provided in Section 8 of this Act is hereby appropriated. The amount
25 
necessary for initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current
26 
year's appropriations of the Philippine Sports Commission. Thereafter, such
27 
appropriations necessary for the continuation and enhancement of the program shall
28 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
29 
Sec. 11. Separability. -If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or
30 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be in
31 
full force and effect.


1 
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
2 
and parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or
3 
amended accordingly.
4 
Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shali take effect after fifteen (15) days
5 
foilowing its publication in the Officiai Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
6 
general circulation.
Approved,