SIXTI':I':NTII CONCiI\I':SS OF '1111': RFPIJBLlC 
) 
(W '1111': PIIII,II'PINI':S 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
NOV 26 P 2 :57 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defcnsor Santiago 
LXI'LANATORY NO'[j\ 
The Constitution, Article 2, states: 
Scction 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, mts, culture, and sports to f()ster patriotism and nationalism, 
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
In recent years, boxing has become one of the most popular sports in our country as the 
hest Filipino boxers competing in international mntches caught wide media attention. In Asia, 
prolessional records 01' I'ilipino boxers have paralleled, if not surpassed, those or Thailand and 
.Japan, while in the rest or the world, they have competed against Mcx.ico and other Latin 
American countries kuown as breeding ground of ring warriors. 
All these show that Filipino 
boxers indeed possess physical strength, skills, and talents, which if given the proper support of 
the State, will po1entinlly place them in top ranks. 
]loxing has attracted many young people, especially those who are from poor families. 
']'0 them, boxing has become a means to escape li'Oln poverty. And because of lack of proper 
guidance, there arc some unscrupulous individuals acting as promoters and managers who take 
advantage or them. 
This hill aims to protect and pl'Ol11ote the wclfare of boxing athletes, and to establish an 
agency that will steer thcir talents and skills towards making our country excel in this sport.' 
~~ .O~ 
MIRIAM DEFI~s'OrSahr"1() 
;(JJIr' . 
• This bill was originally filed during the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


SIXTI':I,:NTII CONC .RI':SS Ol! 'II II': RIWUBLIC 
) 
Ol! '1111,: 1'I1I1,II'PINI':S 
) 
First I{cglliar Sessioll 
) 
'13 
NOV 26 P2 Sl 
SI':NATE 
S. No. 1949 
-
------
--
HECEIVEI> HY,(' 
Introduced by Scnator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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TO Sml':NCinIliN Tlili COUNTRY'S STANDING IN THE SPORT OF BOXING 
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ANIl TO I,:NSUIZI': TI JI\ WFLFARL OF BOXING ATllLETJ,S 
lie it enacted hy the Senate ({nd the !louse of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress (/ssclI/hied: 
4 
SI':CTION I. SllOrt '!'itle. ~ This Act shall be known as the "Boxers' Welfare Act." 
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SJ\CTION 2. /)ee/oration I!l Policy. ~ The State shall promote excellence in the sport of 
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boxing by est;lblishing a national intcgrated systcm Icll' the search and recruitment 01' athletes, 
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and providi ng lelr the wcllilrc () i' I!i I ipino boxers, coaches, and trainers competing for the 
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country, 
<) 
SI':CTION 3, f)ejinition o/"{'erms. ~ For purposcs of this Act, the term: 
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(A) 
"Administration" shall mean the Philippine Boxing Administration; 
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(II) 
"Iloxer" shall mean all individual athlete who fights in a professional boxing 
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muteh; 
(C) 
"11oxer registry" shall mean uny entity eertiiicd by the Philippine Boxing 
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Administration lelr the purposes or maintaining records and identification of boxers; 
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(D) 
"I,icenscc" shall mean an individual who serves as a trainer, second, or eutman 
1 (j 
fiJI' a boxer; 
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(1,) 
"IVhl11agcr" shall mean a person vvho receives cOlnpensatiol1 [or service as an 
1 H 
agcllL or representative o!' a boxer; 
1<) 
(F) 
"Matchmakcr" shall mean a person who proposes, selects, and arranges the 
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boxers to participate in a prolCssional boxing match; 


(C;) 
Pwlessional boxing match - means a boxing contest held in the Philippines 
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between individuals I(ll' Iinaneial compensation. Such tel'lll docs not include a boxing contest 
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that is I'cgulated by an am'lteUI' sports organization; 
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(I I) 
Promoter-The term "promoter" means the person primarily responsible for 
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urgallil'jng, prollloLillg, and producillg a professional boxing 111atch. The tern1 "promoter" docs 
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not include a hotel, casino, resort, 01' other commercial establishmcnt hosting or sponsoring a 
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proiCssional boxing match unlcss-
(i) the hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial 
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establishment is primarily resJlonsible [or organi/.ing, promoting, and producing the match; and 
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(ii) there is no other person primmily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing the 
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match; 
II 
(I) 
Sanctioning Organizatioll- mcans an organization that sanctions professional 
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boxing matches in the I'hilippines- (i) between boxers who arc residents of,different countries; 
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or (ii) that arc advertised, otherwise pl'oll1oted, or broadcast (including closed circuit television) 
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in a country other than Philippines. 
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SI ':CT]ON if. ]'hiii/!J!ine /!oxinl', Adminislration. - There is hereby creatcd the Philippine 
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Iloxinl~ Administration, headed by 11 Chair, who is assisted by a Vice-Chair, General Counsel, 
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and other stall. 
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SI':CTION 5. /fdmil1islraliol1 Chair. - The Chair shall be appointed by the President and 
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shall serve 1(1I' a term 0[' I(Hlr (4) years. lie shall be an individual who has extensive experience 
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in professional boxing netivities or in a licld directly related to professional sports; is of 
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outstanding charadeI' and recognized integrity; and is selected on the basis of training, 
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experience, and qualifications. 
2:1 
SI,CTION (,. 
/fdlilinislralion 
Vice~Ch()il', General Counsel, and Olher SICffl -
The 
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J\,lininistration sh,I11 have a Vice-Chair and a General Counsel, who shall be appointed by the 
2S 
Chair. The Vice-Chair shall serve as Chair in the absence of the Chair, in the event of the 
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inability of the Chnir to carry out his or her f[melions, or in the event of'a vacancy in that o['fiee, 
2 


and to carry out slich duties as may be assigned by the Chair. The Administration shall have 
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such additional stillTas l11ay bc necessary to carry out its functions. 
3 
SLCTION 7. 
IIdministration Functions. -
The Administration shall establish and 
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cnlclrce unilcJrlll rules and practices related to boxing. Jj shall supervise all boxing events held 
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within the country. The Illl1etions or the Games and Amusement Board as well as all other 
C, 
entities related to hoxing me hereby transi'erred to the Administration. 
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In the perlclrInanee or its Il1l1etion, the Acitninistration shall be guided by its mandate to 
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protect the boxers rrom physical and linaneial exploitation. The Administration shall see to it 
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thatthc jc,llowing ads me preven!cd or curtailed or prohibited: 
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II 
(A) 
(1 I) 
l'ronHlters deducting large percentages of a boxer's purse fClr their own usc; 
Promoters coercing boxers into signing long-term, onerous contracts as a 
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condition IClr competing; 
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(C) 
(ll) 
Promoters \(lrcing boxers to hire an associate or relativc ofthe promoter; and 
Illegitimate ratings SyslC111S wherein sanctioning organizations rank hoxers Hnd 
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awarcl "championship titles" basecl on boxers' personal connections rather than win/loss records. 
1(, 
SI':CTION X. ('oopcmtion with Sanctioning l!odies. - The Administration shall work 
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closely with international or regional sanctioning bodies over all professional boxing matchcs 
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held within the country. 
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SLCTION 9. 
I.icensing Requirements. - No person may compete in a professional 
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boxing match or servc as a manager, promoter, or sanctioning organization for a professional 
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boxing lllatch except as provided in a lieensc granted to that person by the Administration. The 
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Administration shall 
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(A) 
(II) 
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section; and 
l\stablish application proceclures, {(mns, and fecs; 
I ':stablish ancl publish appropriate standards for licenses granted under this 
J 


(C) 
Isslle a license (0 any person who, as determined by (he Adminis(ration, mee(s 
2 
the standards established by the Administration under this title. A license issued under this 
3 
section sball be lor ,I renewable lour (4)-yc8!' term j()\' a boxer; and (two) 2-year term f(lr any 
4 
otiler pcrson. 
SI~CTION 10. 
Ikensing J,'ees. - The Administration may prescribe and charge 
6 
reasonable Ices It)\' the licensing of' pnsons under this Act. The Administration may set, charge, 
7 
and adjust v'lryin['. ICes on the basis of classifications of persons, functions, and events 
X 
determined appropriate by the Administration. In setting and charging fees, .the Administration 
9 
shall ensure that, to the maximum extent praetieable-
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1 I 
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(A) 
(1\) 
(C) 
Club boxing is not adversely eCCceted; 
Sanctioning organii'.ations and promoters pay the largest portion uf the fees; and 
Iloxcrs pay as small a portion onhe Cees as is possible. 
SI ':C'1'I0N II. Requirement.l· fi)/' Registry. - The Administration shall establish and 
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mainUIin (or authorii'.e a third party to establish and maintain) a unified national computerized 
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registry I()r the collection, storage, and retrieval of inl(mmltioll related to the pericJlmancc of its 
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duties. The illlt)\'\llation ill thc rcgistry shall includc the following: 
17 
(A) 
Iloxers - List oC prolessional boxers and data in the medical registry, which the 
I X 
Administratioll shall seeme from disclosll\'c in accordance with the confidentiality requirements. 
19 
(Il) 
Other personnel - Inl()\'\nation (pertinent to the sport of professional boxing) on 
20 
buxing promoters, boxing lnatchmnkcrs, boxing manager's, trainers, cut JllCn, referees, boxing 
21 
judges, physicians, and any other personnel dctermined by the Administration as performing a 
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prolcssional activity Il)r professional boxing matches. 
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SI·:CTION 12. Administration /11'1'}'oval. - No person may arrange, promote, organize, 
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producc, or light ill a professional boxing match within the Philippines, unless the match is 
25 
approved by thc Administration. 
4 


Sli(TION 13. Sa/elySlanciard.\'. - No person may arrange, promote, organir:e, produce, 
2 
or [ight in a pro[cssional hoxing match without mceting eaeh ofthe following requirements: 
3 
(A) 
A physical examination 01' each boxer by a physician certifying whether or not 
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thc boxer is physically lit to saCely compete, copies of whieh must be provided to the 
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Administration; 
6 
(II) 
An ambulance or medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment 
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continuously present on site; 
(C) 
(Il) 
i\ physician continuously present at ringside; and 
Ilcalth insurance [l)r each boxer to provide medical coverage [01' any injuries 
10 
sustained in the match. 
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SI':CTION 14. Regis/ralion. -
Each boxer shall register with tbe Administration. The 
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Administration shall issue to each proiCssiol1al boxer who registers an identification card tbat 
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contains each o['the i()llowing: 
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15 
(A) 
(II) 
A recent photograph 01' the boxer; 
i\ personal itien[ilicalion number assigned to the boxer by a boxing registry. 
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Fach pro[cssional boxer shall renew his or her identification card at least once every four (4) 
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years. Hueh pro[cssional boxer shall present his or her identillcation card to the Administration 
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not later than the time of'the weigh-in lor a professional boxing match. 
1') 
The Administrutiol1 shall, upon issuing an identi[lcation card (0 a boxer, make a health 
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and safety discloslll'e to th'lt boxer as the Aciministration consiciers appropriate. The health and 
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saldy disclosure shall include the health and sal'cty risks associated with boxing, and, in 
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particular, the risk alld f'requency of brain injury and the advisability that a boxer periodically 
2] 
undergoes l11edic,d procedures designed to detect brain injury. 
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SHCT10N 15. l'rocedurcs. - The Administration shall establish each of the following 
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procedures: 
5 


(A) 
Procedures to evaluate the professional records and]lhysician's certificatioll of 
2 
each boxcr purtieipating ill a prolessional boxing match, and to cleny authori7.ation for a boxer to 
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light wherc approprinte. 
4 
(II) 
Procedures to ensure (hat no boxer is permitted to box while uncler suspension 
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Ihllll any boxing eOllllllissioll due to (i) a recent knockout or series of consecutive losses; (ii) an 
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injury, requirementl()r a mcdical procedure, or physician denial ofeertiticalion; (iii) failure ofa 
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drllg Icsl; (iv) Ihe lise 0[' lidse aliases, or falsifying, or allcmpling to Calsify, ofTicial 
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identi[ieation cmels or documents; or (v) unsportsmanlike conduct or other inappropriate 
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bchavior inconsistcnt with generally accepted methods of competition in a professional boxing 
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match, 
1 I 
(e) 
Procedurcs to review a suspension where appealed by a boxer, licensee, manager 
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matchmaker, promotcr, or other boxing service provider, including an opportunity for a boxer, 
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licensee, manager, nmtcilmaker, promoter, or other boxing service provider to present 
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contradictory evidence, 
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(Il) 
Procedures to revoke a suspellSlon where a boxer (i) was suspended under 
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paragraph (Il), and has [ilrnished [ilrthcr prool' of a suCilcicntly improved medical or physical 
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condition; (ii) furnishes prool' under paragraph (ll) that suspension was not, or is no longer, 
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l11eri kd by the [[lets, 
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SLCTION 16, Con/mci Re(IUirements. -
The Administration shall develop guidelines for 
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minimum contractual provisions that shall be included in each bout agreement, boxer-manager contract, 
21 
and proll1otional agrecmcnt. The Administration shall ensure that these minimal contractual provisions 
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are prescnt in any such agreement or contraet submitted to it. 
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SHTION 17. I'm/eclionji'om Coercive Contracts. -
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(A) 
A contract provision shall be considered to be in restraint of trade, contrary to 
2S 
public jloliey, and lInenl()rceable against any boxcr to the extent that it -
(i) is a coercivc 
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provision described in paragraph (13) and is lill' a period greater than twelve (12) months; or (ii) 
6 


IS a coercive provIsion described in paragraph (B) and the other boxer under contract to the 
2 
prol1loter emne undcr that cOl1trnct pursuant to a coercive provision described in paragraph (B). 
3 
(II) 
1\ coercive provision described in this paragraph is a contract provision that 
4 
grants 'my rights hetwcen n boxer and a promoter, or hetween promoters with respect to a boxer, 
5 
if tile boxer is required to grnnt slIch rights, or a boxer's promoter is required to grant such 
(, 
rights with respect to a boxer to another promoter, as a condition precedent to the boxer's 
7 
pal'lieipation ill a professional boxing match against another boxer who is lInder contract to the 
X 
promotcr. 
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SFCTION IX. ProlliotioY/al Rights Under Munda/OIj! Bout Con/rae/s. -
No boxing 
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scrvice providcr may require a boxer to gl'8nt allY future promotional rights as a requirement of 
II 
competing ill a proi'cssional boxing match that is a mandatory bout under the rules of a 
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sHnctionillg org(lllizHtioll. 
SI':C'J'ION I '!. Filing and /Ipprol'u! Requirements. -
A manager (ll' a promoter shall 
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submit a copy 01' each boxer-manager contract ancI each promotional agreement between that 
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manager or promoter and a boxer to the Administration. The Administration shall not approve a 
16 
proi'cssional boxing match unless a copy of the bout agreemcnt related to that match has been 
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Ii led with it and approved by it. 
SI·:C'j'JON 20. 
lionel (Ind Other Sure/v - The Administration shall not approve a 
I () 
prolcssional boxing match unless the promoter oCthat match has posted a surety bond, cashier's 
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check, letter oi' credit, cash, or ot\ler security with the I\dministration in an amount acceptable to 
21 
tbe I\dministration. 
22 
SICCTION 21. Online lIeal/i/ment and Personal Sports Profile. - The I\dministration 
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shall establish, develop, operate, and maintain an online recruitment system consisting oj' a 
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website whereby any individual who has potential skill in boxing may build their personal 
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sports prolilc including videos, contact information, photographs, statistics, and biography, and 
7 


upload them to the website easily accessible to the coaches and proillotcrs. The system shall 
2 
have a search engine that allows coaches and promoters to lind boxers by mutching qualifying 
3 
requirements with data input by boxers during registration. The website shall contain a sport 
4 
spccilic online rcgi:->tration /'onn. 
'i 
SLC'l'ION 72. fml)/ementing Rules and Regulations. -
The Philippine Boxing 
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Administration, in coordination with the Philippinc Sports Commissioll, Games and 
7 
Amuscmcnts !loard, I )epartmcnt of I.abor, ancl other concerned agencies shall promulgate and 
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isslic (he Implementing Rules and I~cgllla(i()ns within sixty (60) days upon approval o1'this Act. 
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SI~CTION 23. SCjJ({/'{/bilily Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid 
10 
or unconstitutional, the remainder 01' this Act or tile parts not affccted thcreby shall rcmain in 
II 
Itlll Illrcc and clrcc!. 
12 
SHCTION 24. Nel)eoling Clause .. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules, and 
13 
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hercby repealed, 
14 
amcndcd, or modi lied accordingly. 
15 
SI':C'J'10N ),5. Fflixtivity. - This Act shall take ellect fiftcen (15) days after its 
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publication ill two (2) ncwspapers of'gcneral circulation. 
Approvcd, 
8