QUEZON CITY, METRO MANII

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

9
HOUSE BILL NO. 287

Introduced by Honorable Michael Odylon L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the Department of Sports, the government entity
that shall lead the implementation of policies on the promotion and development
of sports and health fitness programs in the country.

More than Twenty Five (25) years ago, or on January 24, 1990, Congress
enacted Republic Act No. 6847, otherwise known as the “Philippine Sports
Commission Act” which created the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Unfortunately, the PSC seems to fail in living up to its mandate of providing
leadership, formulating the policies and setting the priorities and direction of all
national amateur sports promotion and development, particularly giving the
emphasis on grass-roots participation; encouraging wide participation of all
sectors, government and private, in amateur sports promotion and development;
and supplement government appropriations for sports promotion and
development.

Considering the lacklustre state of Philippine sports, there is much to be
desired for the betterment of the sports for the benefit of our athletes and
coaches. The seeming deterioration of Philippine sports should be addressed.
There was a time when our athletes are considered serious contenders in any
sporting event we participate, unfortunately, those times has passed. Since
Mansueto Velasco won a silver medal in boxing during the 1996 Atlanta
Olympics, the Philippines has not won a single medal in the succeeding editions
of the Summer Olympics. When the Philippines won its first ever overall
championship in the Southeast Asian Games during the 2005 edition held in
Manila, Philippine sports seemed to have reached its threshold. Unfortunately,
the experiences and the lessons learned in earning that victory were not
sustained.

The Philippines is rich in talent as can be proven by the many sports
heroes that the country has produced in various sports disciplines. The success
of the Honorable Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao in boxing, Gilas Pilipinas in
Basketball and Azkals in football have brought pride to the country. The
Philippines have always impressed international and foreign sports personalities
with our remarkable achievements. With our rich talent pool for any sporting
event, we can be a perennial face in any sports competition we join.

This measure will address the various challenges that confront Philippine
sports. This bill proposes the creation of a Department of Sports, a cabinet-level



agency that will provide leadership in the promotion and development of sports in
the country and set the parameters to address the needs of our athletes,
coaches, trainers and sports officials, The Department of Sports will be
responsible for promulgating policies that will help the country improve its
performance in international competitions. Equally important is the role in finding
solutions to the problems besetting Philippine sports including the lack of a
comprehensive national sports program, the need to enhance the partnership
with various sectors involved in sports, obsolete training methods, lack of modern
and high quality training facilities, equipment, and sport venues.

It is now high time for the government to prioritize sports in the national
agenda, and consider sports as an integral factor in nation building.

Ic! ODYLON L. ROMERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILLNO.__287

Introduced by Honorable Michael Odylon L. Romero

AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1: Short Title - This Ac shall be known as the “Department of Sports
Act of 2016".

SECTION 2: Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to promote
physical education, encourage and sustain the development of sports programs,
league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for local and
international competitions to foster physical fitness, self-discipline, teamwork and
excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. The State
recognizes the importance of sports to foster patriotism, nationalism, gallantry,
accelerate social progress, and promote total human development. The State
recognizes the need to promote excellence in sports by looking after the welfare
of Filipino athletes and coaches competing for the country and by providing
benefits and incentives for Filipino athletes and other athletes who win in
international sports competitions and bring honor and recognition to the country.
Toward this end, it is imperative to establish a single, integrated and unified
national sports body for the promotion and development of sports program to
incentivize Filipino athletes and ensure the wider participation of wider sectors of
the society with the end view of helping Filipino athletes attain their fullest
potential.

SECTION 3: Definition of Terms —

A. International sports competitions shall refer to international sports
competitions under the following categories:

1. Regular major competitions such as the Summer Olympic Games, Winter
Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games, Youth Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Park Games, Asian
Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games and Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games;


2. World-level championships held at least every two (2) years with at least forty-
five (45) countries participating by sport;

3, Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-
five (25) countries participating by sport; and

4, Qualifying competitions for World-level games with at least ten (10) countries
participating.

Competitions granting prize money shalll not be included.

b, National athletes shall refer to athletes including persons with disabilities who
are Filipino citizens, members of the national training pool, recognized and
accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the PSC, including
athletes with disabilities (AWD) who are recognized and accredited by the NPC
PHIL and the PSC and who have represented the country in international sports
competitions. National athletes shall be synonymous with Filipino athletes; and

c. National coaches shall refer to coaches of national athletes, who are Filipino
citizens, members of the national coaches training pool, recognized and
accredited by the PSC and the POC, or the PSC and NPC PHIL in the case of
AWD coaches who have represented the country as official coaches to national
athletes in international sports competitions. National coaches.

SECTION 4: Creation of the Department of Sports — There is hereby created the
Department of Sports hereinafter referred to as the Department.

SECTION 5: Mandate — The Department shall be the primary policy, planning,
coordinating, implementing, and administrative entity of the Executive Branch of
the government that will plan, develop, and promote the national sports
development agenda.

SECTION 6: Powers and Functions - The Department shall exercise the
following powers and functions:

|, Policy and Planning

(a) Formulate, recommend and implement national policies, plans, programs and
guidelines that will promote the development and hamess the potential of Filipino
athletes with due consideration for their welfare and success as national athletes
competing locally and in international sports competitions;

(b) Formulate policies and initiatives, in coordination with the Department of
Education (DepED). the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), to develop and
promote sports education consistent with the national goals and objectives, and
responsive to the needs of Filipino athletes and coaches competing locally and
international sports competitions;

(c) Provide
potential of

integrated framework and programs in order to optimize the
ino athletes;

(d) Prescribe rules and regulations for the establishment, operation and
maintenance of Philippine Sports Infrastructures;


(e) Establish sports training facilities that will be accessible to the public and all
Filipino athletes;

II, Resource-Sharing and Capacity-Building

(f) Harmonize and coordinate all sports programs, plans and initiatives to ensure
opportunities and maximum development of every Filipino athlete's potential;

(g) Assist and provide technical expertise to government agencies in the
development of guidelines in the enforcement and administration of laws,
standards, rules, and regulations governing the Department;

(h) Assess, review and support sports related research and development
programs of the government in coordination with the appropriate government
agencies and other institutions concerned;

(i) Prescribe the personnel qualifications and other qualification standards
essential to the effective development and operation of Department;

(j) Develop programs that would enhance the career advancement opportunities
of Department and other sports workers in government;

(k) Assist in the dissemination of vital information essential to disaster risk
reduction and preparedness through sports activites:

(k) Represent and negotiate for Philippine interest on matters pertaining to sports
in international bodies, in coordination with the appropriate government agencies
and other institutions concemed;

()) Establish guidelines for public-private partnerships in the implementation of
sports projects for the development of Filipino athletes and coaches; and

(m) Promote strategic partnerships and alliances between and among local and
international sports body and/or competitor, for the research and development,
educational and training institutions, to enhance competitiveness of Filipino
athletes and workers.

SECTION 7: Composition - The Department shall be headed by the Secretary.
The Department proper shall be composed of the Office of the Secretary, the
Offices of the Undersecretary and the assistant secretaries.

SECTION 8: Secretary of the Department of Sports - The Secretary shall be
appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission on
Appointments. The Secretary shall have the following functions:

(a) Provide executive direction and supervision over the entire operations of the
Department and its attached agencies,

(b) Establish policies and standards for the effective, efficient and economical
operation of the Department, in accordance with the programs of government;

(c) Review and approve requests for financial and manpower resources of all
operating offices of the Department:

(d) Designate and appoint officers and employees of the Department, excluding
the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and regional and assistant


regional directors, in accordance with the civil service laws, rules, and
regulations;

(e) Exercise disciplinary powers over officers and employees of the Department
in accordance with law, including their investigation and the designation of a
committee or officer to conduct such invertigations:

(f) Coordinate with other agencies and public and private interest groups,
including nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations
(Pos) on Department policies and initiatives;

(g) Prepare and submit to the President through the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) an estimate of the necessary expenditures of the
Department during the next fiscal year, on the basis of the reports submitted
by bureaus and offices under him/her;

(h) Serve as a member of the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) as
established by Republic Act No. 9184;

(i) Advise the President on the promulgation of executive and administrative
orders and formulation of regulatory and legislative proposals on matters
pertaining to sports development;

(j) Formulate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers as may
be required to implement the objectives of this Act: and

(k) Perform such other tasks as may be provided by law of assigned by the
President.

SECTION 9: Undersecretaries — The Secretary shall be assisted by three (3)
undersecretaries, who shall be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary: Provided, that two (2) of the undersecretaries
shall be career officers.

SECTION 10: Assistant Secretaries — the Secretary shall be assisted by four (4)
assistant secretaries who shall be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Secretary: Provided, that two (2) of the assistant
secretaries shall be career officers: Provided, further, that at least one (1) of the
assistant secretaries shall be a person publicly recognized in the field of Sports.

SECTION 11: Qualifications - No person shall be appointed Secretary,
Undersecretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Department unless he or she is a
citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good moral character, of proven
integrity and with at least seven (7) years of competence and expertise in the
field of Sports and at least thirty (30) years of age.

SECTION 12: Regional Offices - The department may establish, operate, and
maintain a regional office in the different administrative regions of the country as
the need arises. Each regional office shall be headed by a Regional Director who
may be assisted by one (1) Assistant Regional Director. The Regional Director
and Assistant Regional Director shall be appointed by the President. The
regional offices shall have, within their respective administrative regions, the
following functions:

(a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations of
the Department:

(b) Provide efficient and effective service to the people:

(c) Coordinate with regional offices of other departments, offices, and agencies;


(d) Coordinate with the LGUs; and
(e) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by
Secretary.

SECTION 13: Sectoral and Industry Task Forces — The Department may create
sectoral and industry, task forces, technical working groups, advisory bodies or
committees for the furtherance of its objectives. Additional private sector
representatives, such as from the academe, civil society organizations (CSOs),
and federation of private industries directly involved in sports, as well as
representatives of other National Government Agencies (NGAs). Local
Government Units (LGUs) and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations
(GOCCs) may be appointed to these working groups. Government sports
professionals may also be tapped to partake work in the Department through,
these working groups.

SECTION 14: Transfer of Agencies and Personnel - The Philippine Sports
Commission is hereby abolished, and its powers and functions, applicable funds
and appropriations, records, equipment, property, and personnel transferred to
the Department

SECTION 15: Separation and Retirement of Service — Employees who are
separated from service within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act as a
result of the consolidation and/or reorganization under the provisions of this Act
shall receive saparation benefits to which they may be entitled under Executive
Order No. 366, s. 2004: Provided, that those who are qualified to retire under
existing requirement laws shall be allowed to retire and receive retirement
benefits to which they may be entitled under applicable laws and issuances.

SECTION 16: Structure and Staffing Patter — Subject to the approval of the
DBM, the Department shall determine its organizational structure and create new
divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and
employees of the Department in accordance with the civil service law, rules, and
regulations.

SECTION 17: Transition Period - The transfer of functions, assets, funds,
‘equipment, properties, transactions, and personnel of the affected agencies, and
the formulation of the internal organic structure, staffing pattern, operating
system, and revised budget of tin Department, shall be completed within six (6)
months from the effectivity of the Act, during which time, the existing personnel
shall continue to assume their posts in holdover capacities until new positions
and appointments are issued: Provided, that after the abolition of tie agencies as
specified in section 14 of this Act, the Department, in coordination with the DBM,
shall determine and create new positions, the funding requirements of which
shall nt exceed the equivalent cost of positions abolished.

SECTION 18: Appropriation ~ The amount needed for the initial implementation
of this Act shall be Three Hundred Million Pesos (P300,000,000.00) taken from
the National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and
maintenance of the Department shall be included in the General Appropriations
Act.


SECTION 19: Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department shall
issue within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 20: Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 21: Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 22: This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.