Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State shall 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. 
Article XIV, Section 19 (1), 1987 Constitution 
This proposed measure allows greater access for our Filipino athletes to try-out, train 
and participate in international competitions to represent the country. It seeks to prohibit 
and penalize the curtailment of the rights of an athlete to train and participate with the 
national team.   
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
May 9, 2023
8:00 am
7973


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. AND 
HON. BRIAN RAYMUND S. YAMSUAN 
AN ACT 
PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF ATHLETES TO REPRESENT THE PHILIPPINES AS 
PART OF THE NATIONAL TEAM AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS 
THEREOF 
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 "Athletes' Right to Represent 
the Philippines Act." 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Section 17, Article II of the Constitution provides that 
the State shall give priority to sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate 
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
Further, Section 19 (1), Article XIV of the Constitution provides that "the State shall 
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." To this 
end, the State shall recognize, protect, and uphold the rights of athletes to represent the 
country in international sports competitions. 
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Sec. 3. Coverage. – The right granted under this Act shall be enjoyed by all Filipino 
athletes, including those belonging to any athletic association, sports organization or 
club, whether amateur, semi-professional, or professional. 
 
Sec. 4. Right to Participate in International Competitions. – It is the right of an 
eligible athlete to try out, train, and participate in international sports competitions and 
represent the country as part of the national team. 
 
Sec. 5. Duty of Employers, Educational Institutions, Athletic Associations, Sports 
Organizations and Clubs. – It is the duty or responsibility of employers, educational 
institutions, athletic associations, sports organizations and clubs, whether amateur, 
semi-professional or professional, and their officials to allow an athlete to try out, train, or 
to participate in international sports competitions: Provided, That such decision to 
represent the country as part of the national team is the athlete's own free will. 
 
Sec. 6. Prohibited Acts. – Pursuant to the right granted under Section 4 of this Act, it 
shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to perform the following acts that 
directly or indirectly, induce, threaten, or deny an athlete from participating in try outs, 
training programs, or from representing the country in sports competitions: 
 
(a) For an educational institution or school athletic association to: 
1. Refuse to release a student-athlete to the national team to try out, train, or 
to participate in international sports competitions; 
2. Revoke or withhold the benefits of the scholarship of a student-athlete, 
without cause, which may include the non-payment of tuition and other 
miscellaneous fees covered by the scholarship granted, and other monetary 
and non-monetary benefits; 
3. Give an incomplete grade in subjects which the student-athlete is exempted 
from by virtue of being a student-athlete; 
4. Mark the student-athlete as absent in class for the duration of the try out, 
training, or competition: Provided, That the student-athlete must not exceed 


 
 
the number of excused absences allowed; 
5. Disallow a student-athlete to attend trainings, practices, and regular games; 
6. Suspend, without cause, a student-athlete from the varsity or school 
athletic association; 
7. Expel, without cause, a student-athlete from the educational institution or 
school athletic association; or 
8. Impose other forms of punishment. 
(b) For national sports association (NSA), amateur sport organization or club to: 
1. Refuse to release any of its athletes to the national team to try out, train, or 
to participate in international sports competitions; 
2. Withhold, without cause, an athlete's allowances, including monetary and 
non-monetary benefits; 
3. Disallow an athlete from attending trainings, practices, and regular games; 
4. Suspend, without cause, an athlete from membership in the NSA, sports 
organization or club; or 
5. Expel, without cause, an athlete from the NSA, sports organization or club; 
or 
6. Impose other forms of punishment. 
(c) For a professional sports organization, club, or employer to: 
1. Refuse to release any of its employee-athletes to the national team to try 
out, train, or to participate in international sports competitions; 
2. Withhold, without cause, an employee-athlete's salary, allowances, and 
benefits; 
3. Disallow an employee-athlete from attending trainings, practices and 
regular games; 
4. Suspend, without cause, an employee-athlete from membership in the 
professional organization or club; 
5. Deny an employee-athlete's application for a deserved promotion at work; 
6. Forcibly lay off an employee-athlete from work; or 
7. Impose other forms of punishment. 
 


 
 
Sec. 7. Prosecution of Offenses. – The commission of any of the acts prohibited under 
Section 6 of this Act shall be prosecuted in the following manner: 
 
(a) Who May File. – For purposes of this Act, a complaint may be filed by an athlete, 
an athlete's parent or guardian, the concerned NSAs, or any person or any entity on 
behalf of an athlete who may be affected by the violation of this Act. 
(b) Investigation. – A written complaint for violations of this Act shall be filed with the 
following bodies: 
i.  Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) – for violations committed in relation 
to amateur sports and NSAs; 
ii.  Games and Amusement Board (GAB) – for violations committed by 
professional sports organizations or clubs; 
iii.  Department of Education (DepEd) or Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED) – for violations committed by educational institutions and school 
athletic associations; and 
iv.  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – for violations committed 
in the workplace. 
(c) Relief. – In case of an unfavorable decision, the complainant may, within fifteen 
(15) days upon receipt of the decision, file a motion for reconsideration with the 
same agency, otherwise, the decision shall be final. 
 
Nothing under this section shall prevent the complainant from filing a temporary 
restraining order or any other injunctive relief in court if there is no other plain, 
speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. 
 
Sec. 8. Penalties. – Upon notice and hearing, the PSC, DepEd, CHED, GAB, and DOLE, 
respectively, may impose a fine ranging from One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P100,000.00) to One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) depending on the gravity of the 
offense, and the suspension of the GAB license or permit, if applicable, for violations of 
this Act. 
 


 
 
Availing of remedies under this Act shall not preclude the complainant from seeking 
further recourse from the courts of law. 
 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The PSC, GAB, CHED, DepEd, and 
DOLE, in consultation with athletic associations, NSAs, and the Philippine Olympic 
Committee, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) 
days after its effectivity. 
 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of 
instruction, administrative orders, rules or regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,