■ n.
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 2909
25 JAN-6 P4.-06
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article 14, Section 19 of the Philippine Constitution mandates the State to 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. In view 
of this mandate, the State shall also develop programs and trainings that will encourage 
its citizens to participate in sports and other physical fitness programs.
It is therefore high time that the State support a genuine comprehensive national 
grassroots sports program which serves as the country's premier national sports 
competition and venue for the nationwide talent search for identifying and developing 
outstanding athletes who have the potential to excel in various sports, and place the 
country at the forefront of international sports competitions.
In the government's pursuit to execute the constitutional mandate on sports 
development, former President Fidel Ramos issued Executive Order 163 in 1994 which 
declared the Philippine National Games (PNG) as the centerpiece program of the


government's national physical fitness and sports development effort. However, the 
perennial lack of funding in grassroots sports development including the conduct of 
Philippine National Games, serves as an impediment for us to achieve the objectives of 
the Executive Order. This Congress aimed to address this by passing the Philippine 
National Games Bill which was unfortunately vetoed.
It is just right to reiterate that the Philippine National Games is not a duplication 
of the Palarong Pambansa since the latter is a school sports program of the Department 
of Education students generally 18 years old and below. Meanwhile, the Philippine 
National Games is a grassroots competition program of the Philippine Sports Commission 
for athletes 18 years old and above representing local government units. The PNG may 
also serve as a primary recruitment platform of the National Sports Associations in 
identifying athlete-members of the National Training Pool as even out-of-school youth 
and elite adult athletes can join the PNG.
This bill aims to provide a structure for a truly integrated and comprehensive 
national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports development, 
and encourage all local governments to promote the development of sports in the 
countryside covering all barangays, towns, municipalities, cities and provinces. The PNG 
will also harness the vast potentials of Filipinos in discovering and developing potential 
athletes in various sports who could form part of our national pool of athletes and excel 
in international sports competitions. The bill also encourages and assists various National 
Sports Association in promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level providing 
the necessary linkages with local government units.
The passage of this bill will pave the way for improving our sports development 
programs and other initiatives that will promote the welfare of our Filipino athletes to 
further elevate our status in the sporting world.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRIl
HER LAWRENCE


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 2909
2^) ,iaN-6 P4:06
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
NATIONAL GAMES AND
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine National
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Games Act."
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Article XIV, Section 19 (1) of the Constitution
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provides that the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs,
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league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international sports
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competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of
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a healthy and alert citizenry. Pursuant thereto, the State shall institutionalize an inclusive
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national sports competition that will promote awareness and interest in sports,
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particularly in the countryside, generate wide participation of the citizenry in sports
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through the active involvement of local government units (LGUs), and serve as the linkage
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between grassroots sports development and national amateur and elite sports
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development.
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SEC. 3. Expansion and Institutionalization of the Philippine National Games. - The
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Philippine National Games (PNG), the national multi-sport tournament organized by the
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Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), is hereby expanded and institutionalized. The PNG


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shall serve as the country's premier national multi-sports competition and venue for the
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discovery of potential national and elite athletes. It shall be composed of sports
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competitions for athletes and athletes with disabilities. It shall be held once every two
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years and shall be participated in by athletes, including athletes with disabilities, from the
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different provinces, in collaboration with municipalities under their jurisdiction, and cities
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of the country: Provided, That the sports competition for athletes with disabilities shall
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be held after the conclusion of the sports competition for athletes: Provided, further. That
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national sports associations, in accordance with Republic Act No. 6847 or The Philippine
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Sports Commission Act", shall continue to conduct separate competitions and determine
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the athletes, coaches and other officials that will be part of the country's national team.
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Sec. 4. Objectives. - The PNG shall have the following objectives:
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(a) To provide a framework and structure for a truly integrated and
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comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports
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promotion to elite sports development, including sporting events applicable
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to athletes with disabilities;
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(b)To encourage all LCDs to promote the development of sports in all
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provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays;
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(c)To serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in
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promoting their respective sports programs at the grassroots level and
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providing the necessary linkages with LGUs;
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(d)To serve as one of the feeder programs for the pool of student-athletes
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who shall be given priority in the grant of full scholarship on secondary
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education program at the National Academy of Sports (NAS), subject to the
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rules and regulations of the NAS; and
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(e) To widen the base for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of
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athletes, including athletes with disabilities, who shall constitute the
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national pool to be trained for international sports competitions.
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SEC. 5. Participation in the PNG. - To generate awareness and ensure the wide
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participation of athletes, including athletes with disabilities, with the potential to become
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national amateur and elite athletes, LGUs, through their barangay, municipal, city and
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provincial Physical Fitness and Sports Development Councils (PFSDCs), shall encourage,
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promote or organize local sports competitions within their respective jurisdictions as well
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as recruit, train and select athletes, including athletes with disabilities, for sporting events
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competed at the PNG.
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Provinces, in collaboration with municipalities under their jurisdiction, and cities
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shall form and send their delegations to the qualifying competitions and, thereafter, to
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the national championship competition of the PNG. National government agencies,
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government-owned or controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and
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constitutional commissions shall support and allow the participation of civilian, military,
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and other uniformed personnel to the PNG through the provinces and cities where their
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personnel are residents.
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Athletes, including athletes with disabilities, who will form part of the delegation
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of the participating provinces and cities to the PNG must be Filipino citizens who comply
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with the minimum age requirement of the concerned NSA for the particular sport. No
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athlete who participated in a local sports competition organized by a PFSDC and
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subsequently represented the provincial or city sports delegation in the qualifying
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competitions of the PNG for a particular edition shall be permitted to transfer and
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represent another provincial or city sports delegation in the national championship
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competition of the PNG.
20 
The PNG shall take into consideration the activities and programs of the Palarong
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Pambansa and other local and international competitions to ensure that the welfare of
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the athletes is given paramount importance: Provided, That in case of overlapping
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competition schedules, the PSC, in coordination with concerned NSAs, shall issue
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guidelines on the prioritization of competitions: Provided, further. That international
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competitions where the Philippines is represented shall be prioritized.
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SEC. 6. Feeder Sports Programs. - The Palarong Pambansa provided for under
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Republic Act No. 10588, otherwise known as the "Palarong Pambansa Act of 2013", the
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Batang Pinoy Program of the PSC, and other local sports competitions organized by the
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LGUs or the private sector, shall serve as the feeder system for the recruitment of athletes
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by the LGUs for their participation in the various sporting events in the PNG.
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SEC. 7. Sporting Events. - The official sports of the PNG shall include the following:
1) Aquatics
2) Archery
3) Amis
4) Athletics
5) Badminton
6) Baseball
7) Basketball
8) Billiard and Snookers
9) Bowling
10) Boxing
11) Canoe-Kayak
12) Chess
13) Cycling
14) Dancesport
15) Esports
16) Fencing
17) Floorball
18) Football
19) Futsal
20) Golf
21) Gymnastics
22) Handball
23) Hockey
24) Jiu-Jitsu
25) Judo
26) Karate
27) Lawn
28) Modern Pentathlon
29) Muay Thai


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30)Pencak Silat
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31)Petanque
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32)Rowing
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33)Rugby
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34)Sailing
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35)Sambo
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36)Sepak Takraw
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37)Shooting
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38)Skateboarding
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39)Softball
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40)Soft Tennis
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41)Squash
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42)Surfing
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43)Swimming
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44)Table Tennis
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45)Taekwondo
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46)Tennis
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47)Triathlon/Duathlon
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48)Volleyball
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49)Weightlifting
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50)Wrestling
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51)Wushu
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The sports to be competed in the PNG shall be aligned with the sports participated in
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by the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, ASEAN Para Games, Asian Games, Asian
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Para Games, Olympics, Paralympic Games, and other international sports competitions:
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Provided, That the mandatory sporting events in the Olympic and Paralympic Games shall,
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as far as practicable, be included in the PNG, subject to the availability of sports facilities
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and venues in the LGU where the PNG will be held: Provided, further. That, the PNG
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Board may include new and emerging sports to be competed in the PNG: Provided, finally.


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That the host LGU may recommend the inclusion of local sports to promote and showcase
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its socioeconomic and cultural uniqueness through the PNG.
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SEC. 8. Creation of the Philippine National Games Board. - To ensure the attainment
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of the purposes and objectives of this Act, there is hereby created the Philippine National
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Games Board, hereinafter referred to as the PNG Board. It shall be the policy-making and
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coordinating body for the preparation and conduct of the PNG.
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The PNG Board shall be the proprietary owner of the phrase "Philippine National
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Games" and its related symbols, logos, and concepts.
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SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the PNG Board. - The PNG Board shall have the
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following powers and functions:
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(a) Formulate and approve plans, programs, policies and guidelines that shall govern
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the conduct of the PNG, and the relationships among the organizations involved;
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(b) Form an inter-agency Executive Committee, which shall be headed by a Secretary-
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General, and working committees on screening, registration, accreditation,
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billeting, and appeals, among others, as may be necessary;
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(c) Recognize the provincial and city PFSDCs that will be given authority to register
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athletes and teams in the PNG;
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(d) Determine the host and schedule of the PNG;
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(e) Determine the use of sports facilities, school buildings, and classrooms as may be
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necessary for the conduct of the PNG: Provided, That the PNG Board shall use the
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Department of Education (DepEd) classrooms only after all other facilities have
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been utilized;
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(f) Coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other
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government agencies on the needed funding and technical assistance in the
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implementation of this Act;
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(g) Determine the sports to be competed in the PNG, subject to the conditions set in
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Section 7 hereof;
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(h) Provide incentives and rewards to host LGUs and winning LGUs;
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(i) Develop programs and policies that shall promote the PNG and ensure multi-
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sectoral support to the PNG;
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(j) Assess the conduct of the PNG and submit an annual report to Congress; and
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(k) To exercise such other functions 
as may be 
necessary for the effective
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implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 10. Composition of the PNG Board. - The PNG Board shall be composed of the
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following:
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(a) Chair: Chairperson of the PSC
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(b) Vice-Chair: Undersecretary of the DILG, in charge of Sports Development at the
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local levels
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(c) Members:
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i. Undersecretary of the DepEd, in charge of the Palarong Pambansa
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ii. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
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iii. President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)
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iv. President of the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC)
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V. President of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP)
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vi. President of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP)
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vii. President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)
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viii.President of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB)
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ix. Chairperson, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the
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Philippines (COCOPEA)
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The Members of the PNG Board, except the Chair and Vice-Chair, may be
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represented by the next-in-rank officers of their agencies or organizations, as the case
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may be. The Members of the PNG Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual
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traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as
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Members thereof, subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
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SEC. 11. Secretary-General of the PNG. - The Secretary-General shall be appointed
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by the Chairperson of the PNG Board from among the officials of the PSC. The Secretary-
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General shall submit to the PNG Board all plans, programs, and activities for the
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preparation, organization, and conduct of the PNG. The Secretary-General shall be
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assisted by a Secretariat, which shall be composed of existing personnel of the PSC, the
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DILG, the DepEd, POC and the PPC.
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SEC. 12. Roles of Government Agencies and Private Associations. - In addition to
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the duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to them by the PNG Board, the
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following government agencies and private associations shali perform the following:
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(a) PSC:
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i. Carry out the overall management, coordination, and implementation of the
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PNG;
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ii. Coordinate with the DBM and other government agencies to secure the
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needed funding and technical assistance in the implementation of this Act;
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and
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iii. Enter into contracts or obligations essential for the accomplishment of
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plans, programs and activities for the PNG that were approved by the PNG
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Board.
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(b) DILG:
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i. Mandate all LGUs to coordinate, cooperate and support the plans, programs
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and activities of the PNG through the issuance of corresponding
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memorandum circulars or department orders and guidelines within its
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jurisdiction to help carry out the objectives of the PNG; and
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ii. Direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a
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comprehensive security plan for the LGU venues where the PNG shall be
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held.
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(c) LPP, LCP, LMP, and LnB:
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i. Encourage the implementation of the PNG in their respective member LGUs;
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and
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ii. Assist in disseminating information on the PNG within their respective
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jurisdictions to encourage the active participation of their members.
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(d) DepEd:
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i. Align the Palarong Pambansa calendar of activities, programs and policies
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to the conduct of the PNG;
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ii. Allow the use of its sports facilities, school buildings and classrooms as may
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be necessary for the conduct of the PNG;
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iii. Allow DepEd teachers, who are licensed or accredited technical officials of 
the NSAs, to officiate in the PNG; and
iv. Issue memorandum circulars or department orders and guidelines within its 
jurisdiction to implement the objectives of the PNG.
(e) CHED:
i. 
Promote the program and activities of the PNG to all higher educational 
institutions;
ii. Enjoin the state universities and colleges to allow the use of their sports 
facilities, school buildings and classrooms as may be necessary for the 
conduct of the PNG; and
iii. Issue memorandum circulars or orders on the alignment of tertiary sports 
events and calendar of activities to the PNG.
(f) COCOPEA:
i. 
Promote the program and activities of the PNG to all private educational 
institutions;
ii. Take into consideration in its calendar of activities, programs and policies 
the conduct of the PNG; and
iii. Encourage private educational institutions to allow the use of their sports 
facilities, school buildings and classrooms as may be necessary for the 
conduct of the PNG.
(g)LGUs:
i.
Organize the multi-sectoral PFSDCs, headed by the local chief executive, 
that will coordinate the implementation of an annual palaro at the barangay, 
municipal, city and provincial levels, pursuant to the mandates under 
Sections 389 (b) (13), 444 (b) (1) 27 (xix), 455 (b) (1) (xix), and 465 (b) 
(1) (xix) of the Local 28 Government Code of 1991, as amended; 
ii. Through the PFSDCs, in addition to their functions, implement the following: 
(a) Encourage, promote and organize local sports competitions within their 
respective jurisdictions; (b) Recruit, train, and select athletes who will


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participate in the PNG; and (c) Develop and maintain a pool of local athletes
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and provide them with the necessary assistance;
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iii. For provincial and city PFSDCs: (a) Register an athlete in sporting events of
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the PNG, including its regional and cluster qualifying competitions; and (b)
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Be responsible for the entire delegation registered in the PNG, and ensure
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their athletes' compliance with the PNG's eligibility rules.
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(h) POC and PPG:
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i. Supervise the NSAs involved in the PNG.
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(i) NSAs:
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ii. Set the qualifications for athletes and athletes with disabilities who will be
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participating in different sporting events, based on the international
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federations' rules and regulations;
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iii. Provide technical assistance in the conduct of their respective sports
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competitions in the PNG, including the appointment of qualified officiating
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officials; and
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iv. Allow the participation of all national athletes, registered by the PFSDCs,
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regardless of their membership status with their respective NSAs: Provided,
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That the athlete conforms and agrees to abide by the competition rules and
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regulations of their respective NSAs and PNG; and Provided, further. That
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the athlete is not under any disciplinary sanction, or is otherwise suspended
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by the concerned NSA or international federation, consistent with the rules
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of their respective sports; and
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(j) National Youth Commission:
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i. Promote and disseminate the program and activities of the PNG to all youth
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organizations and youth-serving organizations;
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ii. Encourage the youth, especially the out-of-school youth and youth with
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special needs, to actively participate in the conduct of the PNG in various
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roles possible; and Coordinate with various agencies in the implementation
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of this Act.
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SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this
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Act shall be included in the budget of the Philippine Sports Commission in the annual
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general appropriations acts.
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SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
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start of the effectivity of this Act, the PSC, in coordination with the DILG, DepEd, CHED,
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POC, the PPC, the LPP, the LCP, the LMP, the LnB, the NSAs, and the COCOPEA, shall
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promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Section 2 of Executive Order No. 63, series of 1993,
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is hereby amended. All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, and rules and
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regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
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SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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