Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
QUEZON CITY 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Boxing and Combat Sports are unique compared to other 
professional sports. Primarily, once a fighter enters the ring, his or her 
main intent is to inflict physical harm to the opposing side. Given the 
circumstances, the possibility of being severely injured in a professional 
bout is high. Severe injuries may lead to career ending conditions, or worse, 
death. 
Boxing is a sport that holds a distinct spot in the hearts of the Filipino 
people. History will tell that our country has produced numerous boxers 
who have brought great pride to our country, displaying immensity of the 
Filipino spirit and skills. Professional boxing has produced forty-two major 
world champions — one of the most in the world. Senator Manny Pacquiao, 
our "Pambansang Kamao" and known as one of the greatest pound-for-
pound fighter globally, has inspired a new generation of boxers and 
combatants in other martial art disciplines, thereby re-igniting the interest 
of our countrymen to such physical sports. But not all stories involving 
them are fairy tales and a handful result in sad defeat and worse, financial 
decrepit. 
Despite risking their life and limbs if only to bring honor and pride to 
our country, our fighters suffer with lack of support and proper attention. 
There are those who suffer serious injuries and there are those who die 
because there were no appropriate medical facilities made available during 
and after the fights. There are Filipino champions, who after winning 
elusive medals for the country, end up with nothing in the twilight of their 
lives. This should not be how our mighty boxers and combatants should 
end up. 
This measure seeks to establish the Philippine Boxing and Combat 
Sports Commission which shall primarily regulate the conduct of boxing 
July 1, 2022 
11:02 am
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and combat sports and likewise, the participation of our professional 
athletes in the events outside the country. It shall provide for a rule to allow 
our fighters to rest and recuperate between bouts and receive proper 
medical care before, during and after stepping inside the ring. It also seeks 
to establish a social security benefit program tailored specifically for our 
boxers and combat sports athletes which shall be administered by the state 
pension fund and a health insurance benefit under the National Health 
Insurance Program of the PhilHealth, aside from other benefits from the 
Home Development Mutual Fund and PAGIBIG, wherein all professional 
boxers and combat sports athletes will be enrolled. There will also be an 
initiative to ensure that options for alternative livelihood are made available 
to them if and when they choose to retire from their respective sports. 
It is imperative that we begin to give our fighters the appropriate 
attention and support that they deserve. Our country should not only settle 
with just one Manny Pacquiao, we should start producing and developing 
more champions from our pool of young and promising pugs and combat 
sports fighters who would someday become world-class athletes in their 
own regard, hopefully to bring home equal or greater glory that our People's 
Champ has given to our country. 
Hence, immediate passage of this measure is earnestly prayed for. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.   


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
QUEZON CITY 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT  
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE BOXING AND COMBAT SPORTS 
COMMISSION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine 
Boxing and Combat Sports Commission Act". 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. — It is the policy of the State to 
promote sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, 
and promote human liberation and development. The State shall promote 
excellence in professional boxing and combat sports by establishing a 
commission that will formulate and implement a national policy for the 
development and safety of Filipino professional boxers and combatants. 
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - As used in this Act: 
(a) Boxer refers to an individual who fights another in a boxing match;
(b) Combat sports refer to any of the following or a combination of any of the
following:
(1) Boxing or fist fighting in any of its styles
(2) Kickboxing in any of its styles
(3) Any sport, martial art/ or activity that involves, in accordance with
the applicable regulation, striking, kicking, hitting, grappling,
throwing and/ or punching opponents
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(c) Combatant refers to a person who engages in combat sport as a contestant 
in professional combat sports contest; 
(d) License refers to a document issued by the Philippine Boxing and Combat 
Sports Commission authorizing a person or entity to perform duties as a 
privilege connected with professional boxing and combat sports; 
(e) Manager refers to a person who receives compensation for service as an 
agent or representative of a professional boxer or combatant; 
(f) Permit refers to a document issued by the Philippine Boxing and Combat 
Sports Commission authorizing a person or entity to hold, promote or 
engage in the conduct or operation of a professional boxing or combat 
sports match; 
(g) Professional boxer refers to a boxer who is issued a license or permit by 
the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission to fight in a boxing 
match for a sum of money or offler compensation such as a salary or prize 
money; 
(h) Professional boxing match refers to a boxing match between professional 
boxers who 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) Professional combat sports match refers to a sports match between 
professional sports combatants who shall receive money or other 
compensation for fighting in said match; 
(j) Professional sports combatant refers to a person who is issued a license or 
permit by the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission to fight 
in a professional combat sports match for a sum of money, or other 
compensation such as a salary or prize; and 
(k) Promoter refers to a person, group of persons, or an entity, licensed as 
such by the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission and 
primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing a 
professional boxing or combat sports match. The term "promoter" does not 
include a hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment hosting 
or sponsoring a professional boxing or combat sports match unless - (i) the 
hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment is primarily 
responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing the match; or (ii) 
there is no person or group of persons primarily responsible for organizing, 
promoting, and producing the match. 
SECTION 4. CREATION OF THE PHILIPPINE BOXING AND COMBAT SPORTS 
COMMISSION. — To carry out the above declared policy, the Philippine Boxing 
and Combat Sports Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, is 
hereby created. The Commission shall be attached to the Office of the President 
and have the same status as a national regulatory agency. 
SECTION 5. OBJECTIVES — The Commission shall have the following 
objectives: 
(a) To strengthen professional boxing and combat sports in the Philippines 
and promote the development of world-class professional boxers and 
combatants; and 


(b) To establish policies related to and regulate professional boxing and 
combat sports, and protect the welfare of professional boxers and 
combatants. 
SECTION 6. COMPOSITION. — The Commission shall be composed of a 
Chairperson and four (4) members who shall be appointed by the President of 
the Philippines: Provided, That the Chairperson and two (2) of the members shall 
be chosen from the nominees of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), one (1) 
member chosen from the nominees of the Department of Health (DOH), and one 
(1) member from the nominees from the private sector. 
For succeeding appointments to the Commission, the nominations by the 
PSC and the DOH shall be submitted to the Office of the President thirty (30) 
days prior to the expiration of the term of office of the incumbents, or within 
thirty (30) days from the occurrence of any vacancy in the Commission. The 
nominees shall be of known integrity and shall have nationally recognized 
experience and comprehensive knowledge in professional boxing and combat 
sports. 
SECTION 7. TERM OF OFFICE. — The term of office of the Chairperson and 
the members of the Commission shall be six (6) years: Provided, That no vacancy 
shall be filled except for the unexpired portion of any term. The Chairperson 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 Chairperson or upon the request of three (3) members of the 
Commission. The vote of a majority of the entire membership of the Commission 
shall be necessary for the adoption of any rule, resolution, or decision. 
SECTION 9. ALLOWANCES AND PER DIEMS. — The members of the 
Commission shall receive a per diem for each meeting attended by them at the 
rates set by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) pursuant to Republic 
Act No. 10149, otherwise known as the "GOCC Governance Act of 2011". 
SECTION 10. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. — The 
Commission shall have the following powers and duties: 


(a) Formulate, initiate, plan, and implement a national policy for the 
development of professional boxing and combat sports; 
(b) Formulate, review, and update the rules and procedures related to 
professional boxing and combat sports in conformity with international 
standards; 
(c) Establish a system of registration and licensing of boxers, combatants, 
referees, trainers, seconds, cut man and other personnel; 
(d) Establish rules, set requirements, and collect fees for the grant or renewal 
of a license to a professional boxer, combatant, coach or trainer, promoter 
or judge or referee, and a permit for a professional boxing or combat sports 
match; 
(e) Suspend or revoke a license or permit; 
(f) Establish a consultative mechanism which shall provide a forum for 
continuing dialogue between all stakeholders in the implementation of all 
laws, policies, programs, and projects relating to boxing and combat 
sports;  
(g) Act as a quasi-judicial board when it shall deem necessary to indicate, 
hear, and decide any investigation for any violation of its rules and 
regulations and, in connection therewith, issue subpoena and subpoena 
duces tecum; 
(h) Determine and set a safety standard for and ensure that emergency 
medical personnel and services are available in every professional boxing 
match and combat sports in the Philippines; 
(i) Maintain an integrated registry of professional boxers, combatants, 
coaches, trainers, judges, referees, and promoters; 
(j) Seek or request the assistance and support of any government agency, 
office or instrumentality including government-owned and -controlled 
corporations, local government units as well as nongovernmental 
organizations or institutions in pursuit of its policies; 
(k) Establish and maintain linkages with international boxing and combat 
sports organizations or institutions and counterpart agencies of foreign 
governments in order to facilitate and ensure the participation of Filipino 
professional boxers and combatants in international events; 
(l) Allocate resources for the implementation of national policies related to 
boxers and combatants; 
(m) Submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act to the 
President and to Congress; and 
(n) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act effectively and efficiently. The functions of the Games 
and Amusements Board (GAB) as well as other entities related to boxing 
and combat sports are hereby transferred to the Commission. 
SECTION 11. SECRETARIAT. - The Commission shall have a secretariat, which 
shall be headed by an Executive Director and such other technical and 
administrative staff as may be determined by the Commission. The secretariat 
shall implement the policies and programs approved by the Commission and 
administer its day-to-day functions. The salaries, allowances, and other 
emoluments of the secretariat shall be determined by the Commission in 


accordance with civil service rules, the salary standardization law, and other 
relevant and existing laws. 
SECTION 12. PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS. — 
No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or fight in a professional 
boxing and combat sports match without a physical and diagnostic examination 
for each participating professional boxer or combatant conducted by a licensed 
physician accredited by the Commission who certifies that the boxer or 
combatant is physically fit to safely compete. 
SECTION 13. MANDATORY REST PERIOD. - There shall be an interval between 
boxing contests and combat sports matches which shall be referred to as 
mandatory rest period. The duration of the mandatory rest period shall be 
determined by the Commission 
SECTION 14. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. - A professional boxing and 
combat sports match may be held only if: 
(a) A licensed practicing physician, whose services are paid by the promoter 
and duly registered with the Commission, is continuously present at the 
ringside of the professional boxing and combat sports match; 
(b) Ambulance services, including oxygen tanks and other medical personnel 
equipped with appropriate resuscitation equipment, are continuously 
present within the immediate vicinity of the ring; and 
(c) A tertiary hospital is near the vicinity of the event: Provided, That a 
memorandum of agreement shall be executed between the promoter of the 
professional boxing and combat sports match and the hospital to ensure 
that the injured boxers and combatants shall be attended to in their facility 
with dispatch. 
The absence of any of the requirements shall be a cause for the cancellation 
of the permit to hold the professional boxing and combat sports match. 
SECTION 15. SOCIAL PENSION AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. — All 
professional boxers and combatants shall be enrolled in the Social Security 
System (SSS), National Health Insurance Program — Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation (PhilHeaIth), and the Home Development Mutual Fund or PAG -IBIG, 
and shall be entitled to all the benefits in accordance with the pertinent 
provisions of law. The SSS shall develop and administer a separate social security 
program for boxers and combatants. This program may have different 
contribution, pension, and other benefit schemes. The premium payments or 


contributions shall be shouldered by the promoter of the professional boxers and 
combatants. 
SECTION 16. BOXING AND OTHER COMBAT SPORTS OFFICIALS. - All the 
boxing and combat sports officials involved in any match shall not receive funds 
or compensation in any form, directly or indirectly, from the promoter or its 
agents. Such funds or compensation shall be coursed and collected by the 
Commission for appropriate disbursement. 
 
SECTION 17. ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS FOR RETIRED AND/ 
OR INJURED PROFESSIONAL BOXERS AND COMBATANTS. - The 
Commission, in coordination with various stakeholders in the boxing and combat 
sports industry, shall establish an alternative livelihood training program and 
referral system. 
SECTION 18. APPROPRIATIONS. - The amount of needed to fund the 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 19. BOXERS AND COMBATANTS WELFARE DEVELOPMENT 
TRUST FUND. — There shall be an independent and separate trust fund 
established under this Act to be administered by the Commission and exclusively 
used for the welfare benefits of professional boxers and combatants. The 
Commission shall be authorized to receive grants, donations, or endowments, 
whether from domestic or foreign sources, for purposes related to its functions, 
which shall accrue to the fund: Provided, That in cases of donations from foreign 
governments, acceptance thereof shall be subject to the approval of the President 
of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. 
SECTION 20. TRANSITORY PROVISION. — Pending the organization of the 
Commission, the GAB shall continue to exercise its duties and functions in 
relation to professional boxing and combat sports. Such amount under the 
Boxers Welfare Fund under the GAB shall thereafter be transferred to the Boxers 
and Combatants Welfare Development Trust Fund of the Commission and shall 
form part of the initial appropriations of the Commission. 
SECTION 21. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR). — The 
Commission, in consultation with the DOH, Department of Education (DEPED), 


Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of 
Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation 
(PAGCOR), PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), and other concerned 
agencies shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations 
(IRR) of this Act within sixty (60) days upon its approval: Provided, That failure 
to promulgate the IRR shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its 
effectivity. 
SECTION 22. REPEALING CLAUSE. — Section 7 of Executive Order No. 392, 
series of 1950, is hereby amended. Any other law, presidential decree or 
issuance, executive order, 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,