CEIVE]
9 WED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HousE BILL No. 6158

Introduced by HON. ROGELIO D. PACQUIAO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

No doubt, the sport of boxing occupies a special place in the hearts of Filipinos. It has been
a source of immense pride to our country, thanks to the long list of our boxers who have shown
the greatness of Filipino spirit to the rest of the world. Boxing greats like Gabriel! “Flash” Elorde,
Rolando Navarrete, Nonito Donaire, and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, serve as inspiration to the
next generation of local talent to continue our dominance in this sport.

However, it is also a sad truth that most of our boxers are being neglected by the State,
which is constitutionally mandated to “give priority to ... sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development”
(Sec. 17, Art. II). Many have been accepting too low a pay every match just to sustain their
families. They are in constant danger of medical complications, with occasional fatalities being
reported. Facilities and equipment are scarce and expensive, making the cost of training too high
for aspiring fighters. Worse, a great number do not receive constant support come retirement,
condemning them into misery and infirmity in their later years.

These, among other problems, point to the realization that the existing government
infrastructure supposed to protect and promote our boxers’ welfare is unconscionably weak. It is
not commensurate with the value we, as a society, attribute to this sport. The stature of boxing to
our people, as well as its inherently dangerous nature, justifies the creation of the Philippine
Boxing Commission (PBC), which would finally give our fighters the attention and support they

deserve.


The proposed PBC will endeavor to strengthen the boxing industry in the Philippines
towards developing world-class professional boxers, and to utilize the sport for revenue and
‘employment to the end of promoting the safety and welfare of boxers and providing supplemental
assistance to the industry's registered stakeholders. Once created, the PBC will be able to provide
and implement the necessary welfare incentives and benefits long overdue to all professional
boxers who have brought honor and prestige to our country.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES)
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

6158

HB. No.

BY REPRESENTATIVE ROGELIO D. PACQUIAO.

AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE BOXING COMMISSION TO STRENGTHEN THE
BOXING INDUSTRY AND PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF FILIPINO
BOXERS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This act shall be known as the “Philippine Boxing Commission
Act of 2017”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy to strengthen and ensure
the continued growth of the boxing industry in the country through a national government agency
that will not only pursue the sport’s development program but also utilize the sport as a source of
revenue and employment to promote the safety and welfare of Filipino boxers, and provide
supplemental assistance to the industry's registered stakeholders.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:

a. Commission — shall refer to the Philippine Boxing Commission;


b. Boxer — means an individual who fights another in a boxing match;

. License ~ shall refer to a document issued by the Commission authorizing a person or
entity to be a professional boxer, to perform duties as a coach or trainer of a professional boxer, a
promoter for a professional boxing match, or a judge or referee in said match;

d. Manager — means a person who receives compensation for service as an agent or
representative of a professional boxer;

. Permit — shall refer to a document issued by the Commission authorizing a person or
entity to hold, promote or engage in the conduct or operation of a professional boxing match;

f. Primary beneficiaries — for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the spouse and children;

g. Professional boxer — shall refer to a boxer who is issued a license by the Commission to
receive a sum of money or other compensation as a salary or prize money for fighting in a boxing
match;

h. Professional boxing match — shall refer to a boxing match held in the Philippines between
professional boxers that shall receive money or other compensation for fighting in said match, but
shall not refer to a boxing contest that is regulated by an amateur sports organization;

i, Promoter — shall refer to a person, group of persons, or an entity, licensed as such by the
Commission and primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing a professional
boxing match. The term “promoter” does not include a hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial
establishment hosting or sponsoring a professional boxing match unless ~ (i) the hotel, casino,
resort or other commercial establishment is primarily responsible for organizing, promoting and
producing the match; and (ii) there is no person or group of persons primarily responsible for
organizing, promoting and producing the match; and

j. Secondary beneficiaries — for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the parents, and in their
absence, to the siblings.

SECTION 4. Creation of the Philippine Boxing Commission. — For the purpose of carrying
out the above declared policy, there is hereby created the Philippine Boxing Commission,
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall be directly under the administrative
supervision of the Office of the President.

SECTION 5. Objectives. — The Commission shall have the following objectives:

a. To strengthen the boxing industry in the Philippines towards developing world-class
professional boxers; and


b. To utilize the sport for revenue and employment in order to promote the safety and
welfare of boxers and provide supplemental assistance to the industry’s registered stakeholders;

SECTION 6. Membership.—The Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and six
(6) members that shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines: Provided, that the
Chairman and two of the members shall be chosen from nominees of the Games and Amusement
Board, one Member chosen from the nominee of the Department of Health, and three Members
from the private sectors.

Nominations by the GAB and the DOH shall be submitted to the Office of the President
thirty (30) days prior to expiration of the term of office of incumbents, or within thirty (30) days
from the occurrence of any vacancy in the Commission. Said nominees shall have nationally
recognized experience and comprehensive knowledge in professional boxing activities and of
known integrity.

SECTION 7. Term of Office. — The term of office of the commissioners shall be six (6)
years; Provided, that no vacancy shall be filled except for the unexpired portion of any term; and
Provided, further, that the Chairman or any member of the Commission whose term of office has
expired shall hold over in office until his successor shall have been appointed and has qualified.
The Chairman and members of the Commission may be suspended or removed by the President
of the Philippines.

SECTION 8. Meetings and Quorum. ~The Commission shall meet regularly once a month
and as often as the exigencies of the service may demand, upon the call of the Chairman or upon
the request of three (3) members of the Commission. The vote of a majority of the entire
Membership shall be necessary for the adoption of any rule, resolution or decision of the
Commission.

SECTION 9. Allowances and Per Diems. — The Chairman and members of the
Commission shall each receive a monthly allowance of eight thousand pesos and a per diem not
to exceed five hundred pesos for each meeting actually attended by him: Provided, that such
allowance and per diems shall not exceed twelve thousand pesos during one month,

SECTION 10. Powers and Duties of the Commission. — The Commission shall have the
following powers:


a. To formulate, review and update the rules and procedures related to professional boxing
in the Philippines in conformity to international standards in order to regulate the boxing industry
for the accomplishment of its objectives;

b. To establish rules, set requirements and collect fees for the procurement of a license by,
or issuance and renewal of a license to a professional boxer, a coach or trainer of a professional
boxer, a promoter for a professional boxing match, or a judge or referee in said match, and the
procurement of and issuance of a permit for a professional boxing match; or the suspension or
revocation of such license or permit, in order to limit participation in professional boxing matches
and other related activities to licensed and appropriately fit individuals;

c. To maintain an integrated registry of professional boxers, coaches, trainers, judges,
referees, and promoters who will comprise the registered stakeholders of the industry;

d. To request the assistance and support of any government agency, office or
instrumentality including government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units
as well as non-governmental organizations or institutions in the pursuit of its objectives and the
execution of its other powers and duties;

e. To establish linkages with international boxing organizations or institutions and
counterpart agencies of foreign governments in order to facilitate and ensure the participation of
Filipino professional boxers in international boxing events;

£. To formulate and implement a comprehensive and progressive health care program,
alternative livelihood program, a system of life insurance, disability and death benefits and other
benefits for all boxers participating in boxing events/matches sanctioned by the Commission;

g. To facilitate a pension system through the Social Security System (SSS) and/or private
insurance companies for qualified professional boxers;

h. To determine and set a safety standard for and to ensure that emergency medical
personnel and services are available in every professional boxing match in the Philippines;

i, To act as a quasi-judicial board when it shall deem necessary to initiate, undertake, hear
and decide any investigation for any violation of its rules & regulations concerning professional
boxing and, in connection therewith, shall have the power to issue subpoena and subpoena duces
tecum.

j. To submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act to the Office of the
President and to Congress and;

k. To perform such other functions as may be necessary to effectively and efficiently carry
out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 11. Secretariat. The Commission shall constitute and establish a Secretariat
that shall be headed by an Executive Director, who shall also be appointed by the President of the
Philippines, and staffed as may be determined by the Commission. The Secretariat shall be tasked


to implement the policies and programs approved by the Commission, and to administer its duties
and day to day functions. Their salaries, allowances and other emoluments shall be determined by
the Commission in accordance with Civil Service rules and other relevant and existing laws.

SECTION 12. Boxing Officials. — All the boxing officials involved in any boxing event
shall not receive funds or compensation, in any form, directly or indirectly, from the promoter or
its agents. Such funds shall be coursed through and collected by the Commission for appropriate
disbursement.

SECTION 13. Health Care Benefits. — All professional boxers shall be enrolled in the
National Health Insurance Program (PhilHealth) to enable them to receive and avail of an adequate
package of personal health services including, but not limited to, in-patient hospital care, out-
patient care, emergency and transfer services, and other supplementary health benefits, as may be
provided in the PhilHealth programs. The cost of premium contribution shall be fully paid by the
Commission to be directly remitted to the PhilHealth.

In case of hospitalization in any government hospital or clinic, any required hospital and
physician’s fees in excess of PhilHealth benefit shall be shouldered by the Philippine Charity
‘Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), provided that the boxer shall comply with the requirements for
qualification and grant of health care assistance to be extended by the PCSO consistent with and
subject to compliance with PCSO’s existing rules and guidelines.

SECTION 14. Alternative Livelihood Programs for Retired and/or Injured Professional
Boxers. ~The Commission, in coordination with various stakeholders in the boxing industry, shall
establish an alternative livelihood training program and referral system for retired and/or injured
boxing champions.

SECTION 15. Retirement Benefits. — Professional Filipino boxers who won a world
championship in the World Boxing Championship (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF),
World Boxing Organization (WBO), and World Boxing Association (WBA) shall receive a
lifetime retirement pension of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) monthly upon reaching the
age of sixty (60). Retirement benefits under this Act shall be separate and distinct from the
mandatory requirement benefits provided by existing laws.

‘The Commission is authorized to adjust the benefits provided in this section every ten (10)
years 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.


SECTION 16. Survivorship Benefits.— In the event of the death of the Professional boxer,
his/her surviving legal spouse or in the absence of such spouse, his/her other primary beneficiaries
together, or in the latter’s absence his/her secondary beneficiaries in the order mentioned under
Section 3 (j), shall receive the monthly pension due him, as provided under Section 16 of this Act.

SECTION 17. Education and Training Benefits. — A Professional boxer, or the boxer’s
designated beneficiary, may avail any of the following scholarship programs, subject to a selection
process and accreditation of the participating institutions as may be determined by the
Commission:

a. Skills for Employment Scholarship Program. — For technical or vocational training
scholarship;

b. Education for Development Scholarship Program. — For baccalaureate program; and

c. Boxing Sports Science Program. ~ To ensure the competitive advantage of Filipino
boxers in achieving healthy and safety boxing standards.

The Annual scholarship lists of all these programs shall be submitted to the Commission.

SECTION 18. Appropriations. ~ The amount of One Hundred Fifty Million Pesos
(P150,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act, which shall be
taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in equal shares. Thereafter, such amount needed to implement
this Act shall be included in the Annual Appropriations of the Commission subject to the retention
of the amount mandated under Section 20 of this Act. The Commission is hereby authorized to re-
align its appropriations in the current year of the date of effectivity of this Act to conform with the
requirements of this Act.

SECTION 19, Boxers Welfare Development Trust Fund. ~ There shall be an independent
and separate trust fund established under this Act, to be administered by the Commission. An
amount not less than eighty percent (80%) accrued from the licensing, registration and
accreditation fees and fines and charges shall be used for the purpose of the Boxers Welfare
Development Trust Fund, ten percent (10%) for the national Government Share and the remaining
ten per cent (10%) for administration. The trust fund may also accept grants and donations from
national and foreign entities and individuals interested in the development of the boxing industry.

The said Trust Fund shall be used for, but not limited to, the death and disability benefits
of the professional boxers. The guidelines for the availment of the said benefits shall be determined
by the Commission based on the actuarial studies.


SECTION 20. Transitory Provision. ~ Pending the organization of the Commission, the
Games and Amusements Board (GAB) shall continue to exercise the duties and functions in
relation to professional boxing sports.

Such amount under the Boxer’s Welfare Fund, under the GAB shall then be transferred to
the Boxer’s Welfare Development Trust Fund of the Commission and will form part of the initial
appropriations of the Commission.

SECTION 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — The Commission in
consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), the
CHED, the TESDA, the Department of Finance (DOF), the BIR, the PAGCOR, the PCSO, the
PhilHealth, among others, and other concerned agencies shall promulgate and issue the IRR within
sixty (60) days upon approval of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the Commission to
promulgate the rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its
effectivity.

SECTION 22. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 23. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 24. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,