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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
8 [LC 15 1' : :#:I8 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANTORY NOTE 
Health care costs in the country are rising rapidly. Chief executive o€ficers rank 
health care costs as their number one economic pressure' and by 2009, companies will be 
greater than their net profits, if current trends continue. Chronic disease accounts for 
approximately 75 percent of health care costs annually. 
Currently, many governmental, scientific, and public health agencies recommend 
that school-age children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to 
vigorous physical activity that is developmentally appropriate and enjoyable, and which 
involves a variety of activities, on most, preferably all, days of the week. 
This bill seeks to address the health problem by helping children, families and 
communities achieve the national recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity 
every day. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
) 
8 DEC gpj I? 
1 1.98 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL PROGRAM PROMOTING LIFELONG ACTIVE 
COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House OjRepresentatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Promoting Lifelong 
Active Communities Every Day Act of 2008 or PLAY Every Day Act of 2008.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. It 
is also espoused that the State shall promote and protect the physical, moral, intellectual 
and social well-being of the people. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of a National Program Promoting Lifelong Active 
Communities. - The Secretary of Health, acting through the Director of the National 
Center for Disease Prevention and Control, shall develop a well-validated community 
measurement tool, which shall be known as the “Community Play Index” that can 
measure the policy, program, or environmental barriers in communities to participating in 
physical activity. 
The Community Play Index shall include the following: 
A. Cross-cutting measurements that: 
1. examine barriers to physical activities across multiple settings, including 
homes, after school and child care sites, schools, the community at-large, 
and worksites; and 
2. focus on the- 
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a. availability of adequate spaces and places for physical activity; 
b. availability of, and access to, quality physical activity and physical 
education programs; and 
c. the availability of programs, activities, and leaders to educate about the 
importance of physical activity for the community; and 
B. Additional measurements to assist economically and culturally diverse 
communities in examining the social determinants of health. 
SECTION 4. Model Communities of PLAY Implementation Grants. - The 
Secretary of Health, acting through the Director of the National Center for Disease 
Prevention and Control, shall award three grants to regional health departments to enable 
them to work in partnership with eligible community-based coalitions to plan and 
implement model communities of play that: 
A. Increase the physical spaces and places available for physical activity; 
B. Increase the opportunities for children and families to participate in quality 
play, and the number of children and families participating in quality play; and 
C. Increase knowledge and awareness about the importance of individuals 
achieving 60 minutes of recommended physical activity every day. 
SECTION 5. Partnership With Community Coalitions. - A regional health department 
receiving a grant under Section 4 shall use grant funds to carry out the activities' 
described in Section 5 in partnership with one or more community coalitions that may be 
one of the following organizations: 
A. A community-based organization that focuses on children and youth, 
preventive health, physical activity, or physical education . 
B. A local parks and recreation department. 
C. A local health department, 
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D. A local educational agency. 
E. A local city planning agency. 
F. A local health care provider. 
G. A 4-year institution of higher education. 
H. A qualified health center or rural health clinic. 
I. A hospital. 
J. A faith-based organization. 
I<. A policymaker or elected official. 
L. A community planning organization. 
The community coalition completed and submitted to the health department the 
following documents: 
A. Community Play Index developed under Section 3 for the community that 
identifies the gaps and barriers to physical activity in the community to 
children and youth; and 
B. A community action plan describing the programs, policy, and environmental 
change strategies thpt will be implemented with grant funds to help children 
and yonth in the community reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical 
activity every day. 
SECTION 6. Authorized Activities. A regional health department that receives a 
grant under Section 4 shall use funds available through the grant to carry out the 
following activities: 
A. Train community-based coalitions on how to utilize the Community Play 
Index to measure the program, policy, and environmental barriers to promoting 
lifelong physical activity for youth. 
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B. Work in partnership with community coalitions described in Section 5 to 
enable the community coalitions to carry out the coalition's community action 
plan and promote a model community of play, which may include the following: 
1.Enabling the maximum use of, or the creation of spaces and places for, 
physical activity for children,' families, and communities before, during, and 
after school or work, which may include increasing the number of-- 
a. programs that increase the number of safe streets and sidewalks in the 
community to walk and bike to school, work, or other community 
destinations, such as recreation sites, parks, or community centers; 
b. schools, faith-based organizations, and recreational facilities serving 
the community that provide programming on physical activity and 
physical education before, during, or after school; 
c. schools serving the community that provide recess, physical education 
, and physical activity for children and youth; 
d. day care, child care, and after school care sites in the community that 
provide physical activity for children and youth; 
e. venues in the community that provide co-curricular physical activity 
programs, including sports fields and courts, especially venues for all- 
inclusive intramural programs and physical activity clubs; 
f. playgrounds and activity sites in the community for young children, 
including sites that offer programs that provide physical activity 
instruction that meet the various needs and interests of all students, 
including those with illness, injury, and physical and developmental 
disabilities, as well as those that live sedentary lifestyles or with a 
disinterest in traditional team sports; 
g. capital improvement projects that increase opportunities for physical 
activity in the community; and 
h. networks of walking and cycling trails where trails do not exist in the 
community, that offer both a functional alternative to automobile 
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travel and an opportunity for exercise, recreation, and community 
connectedness. 
2. 
Enhancing opportunities and access for children and youth in the 
community to participate in quality physical activity and physical 
education programs before, during, and after school, which may include 
increasing the number of-- 
a. school and after school care sites in. the community that implement 
proven health curricula, physical education (including developing 
innovative approaches to teaching and staffing, physical education ), 
and physical activity programming; 
b. children and youth in the community that are able to participate in 
physical education or activity during and after school, by ensuring that 
adequate equipment is available to such children and youth; 
c. scholarships to low-income children and youth for physical activity 
programs; 
d. education and training programs for education , recreation, leisure, 
child care, and coaching professionals regarding quality physical 
education and physical activity programs and policies; 
e. training programs to assist physicians in-- 
i. carefully communicating the results of body mass index (BMI) 
tests to parents and, in an age-appropriate manner, to the children 
and youth themselves; 
ii. providing information to families so they may make informed 
decisions about physical activity and nutrition; and 
iii. explaining the benefits associated with physical activity and the 
risks associated with childhood overweight and obesity; 
iv. 'assessment tools used to measure the quality of physical activity, 
sports, and intramural sports programs; 
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v. guidelines and informational materials used by teachers, parents, 
caregivers, and health-care professionals who are interested in 
promoting physical activity for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers; 
and 
vi, guidelines and informational materials used to promote physical 
activity with the intent of improving the current health, fitness, and 
wellness of preadolescent children (ages 6 through 12) as well as, 
to promote lifelong physical activity. 
3. 
Identifying, engaging and mobilizing community leaders, decision- 
makers, experts, and the media to raise awareness and educate the public 
about the importance of securing 60 minutes of physical activity every 
day, which may include increasing the number of-- 
a. school and after school care faculty and staff, including coaches, that 
serve as positive role models for students regarding regular physical 
activity; 
b. businesses that serve as role models by providing physical space and 
incentives for employees to participate in physical activity; 
c. businesses that serve as role models to' communities by-- 
i. providing support to intramural teams, clubs, sports leagues, 
playgrounds, trails, biking and walking paths, and fields and 
venues for sports, play, and physical activity; 
.. 
11. incorporating built environment strategies into new construction of 
facilities; 
iii. adopting safe routes to school programs; 
iv. providing bike racks.at the office: and 
v. encouraging the use of the stairs; 
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d. 
e. 
f. 
g, 
h. 
1. 
insurers that provide incentives for maintaining healthy body weight, 
including offering screening and obesity prevention services in routine 
clinical practice; 
groups representing low-income individuals or individuals with 
disabilities, that can promote and secure safer and more accessible 
sites for activity; 
consumer research-driven marketing strategies for ongoing initiatives 
and interventions that enhance physical activity for children and youth; 
products 
and opportunities provided 
or offered by leisure, 
entertainment, and recreation industries that promote regular physical 
activity and reduce sedentary behaviors; 
media advocacy training programs for public health and exercise 
scientists so as to empower the scientists to disseminate their 
knowledge to a broad audience; and 
campaigns to foster awareness about the health benefits of regular 
physical activity of not less than GO minutes a day €or all children and 
youth. 
SECTION 7. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
amount as hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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