EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. B. No. SQQl
Oi'iii c uf til'.- iit'.'n rrfii':;
21 
.j<\N 20 P2 -03
Rn
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT II^STITUTIONALIZING 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.
Philippine sports apprehend the need for a sporting culture that fosters healthy 
and disciplined Filipino athletes to be at par with the world's best. However, beyond the 
country's goal for gold and glory, the perennial lack of funding in the training of our 
athletes and the lack of a pool of adequately trained athletes are evident and impede the 
growth of supposed potential athletes.
In light of these recurring problems, this proposed bill seeks 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 government officials


to promote the development of sports in the countryside covering all barangays, towns, 
municipalities, cities and provinces. Moreover, this bill encourages and assists various 
National Sports Associations In promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level 
providing the necessary linkages with local government units.
Through the proposed Philippine National Games, this bill will address other 
Olympic and Asian Games sports, which have proven to give our country more medals in 
international competitions, that are not regularly included In Palarong Pambansa or any 
other sports programs in the country. It is also designed to scout for potential athletes in 
various sports.
In addition, this bill hopes to institutionalize a truly comprehensive national 
grassroots sports program, that will harness the vast potential of the citizenry in 
discovering and developing champion athletes who could excel in international sports 
competition, thus giving our country pride and international goodwill and addressing the 
long-standing problems of Philippine sports In general.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. B. No.
SENATE
2001
5' (IV 
^^^*■
of t!ic fevr-.-t**'!;!*
21 JAN 20 P2:03
fill.:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine National
2 
Games Act."
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. — Article IV, Section 19 (1) of the 1987
4 
Constitution provides that the State shall promote physical education and encourage
5 
sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for
6 
international sports competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for
7 
the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
8 
Pursuant thereto, it is incumbent upon the State to institutionalize a genuine
9 
comprehensive national grassroots sports program which serves as the country's premier
10 
national sports competition and venue for the nationwide talent search for identifying
11 
and developing outstanding athletes who have the potential to excel in various sports,
12 
and place the country at the forefront of International sports competitions.
13 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of the Philippine National Games (PNG) are
14 
as follows:
15 
(a) To provide a framework and structure for a truly Integrated and
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
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comprehensive national spurts program linking grassroots sports promotion 
to elite sports development;'
(b) 
To serve as the government's premier national sports competition 
to be held once every two years;
(c) 
To encourage all local government officials to promote the 
development of sports in the countryside covering all provinces, cities, 
municipalities, and barangays,
(d) 
To serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations In
promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level providing the 
necessary linkages with local government units; and
(e) 
To widen the base for talent identification, selection, and
recruitment of athletes that shall constitute the national pool to be trained 
for international sports competitions.
14 
SEC. 4. Preparatory Sports Program.- The Palarong Pambansa provided for
15 
under Republic Act Number 10588, and other local sports competitions organized by the
16 
local government units or the private sector, shall serve as "feeder" and preparatory
17 
sports program for the PNG.
18 
SEC. 5. Establishment of the Philippine National Games Board.- A
19 
Philippine National Games Board, hereinafter referred to as the "Board", is hereby created
20 
as the lead policy-making and coordinating body for the preparation and conduct of the
21 
PNG.
22 
The members of the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual traveling
23 
and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members
24 
thereof, subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
25 
SEC. 6. Membership of the Board.-JhQ Board shall have seven (7) members
26 
composed of the following:


1 
(a) Executive Secretary 
Chairperson
2 
(b) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Vice Chairperson
3 
(c) Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission 
Secretary General
4 
(d) Secretary of the Department of Education 
Member
5 
(e) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education 
Member
6 
(f) President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) 
Member
7 
SEC. 7. Functions and Duties of the Board.- The Board shall perform the
8 
following functions and duties:
9 
a) To formulate policies and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the PNG, and
10 
the relationships among the organizations involved;
11 
b) To form an Executive Committee which shall be headed by a Secretary General in-
12 
charge for the day-to-day operations of the PNG;
13 
c) To recognize the Local Sports Councils to be given authority to enter athletes and
14 
teams In the PNG;
15 
d) To determine the venue and schedule of the PNG;
16 
e) To determine the sports to be Included which shall be aligned with 
the sports
17 
participated by the Philippines In the Southeast Aslan Games, Asian Games,
18 
Olympics and other mandatory international sports events;
19 
f) To establish an advisory council composed of public or private individuals,
20 
organizations or entities necessary for the success of the PNG;
21 
g) To create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee;
22 
h) To determine the regional or cluster qualifying competitions, including 
the
23 
qualifying standards, consistent with the rules of the respective NSAs;
24 
i) To develop and recommend programs and policies that will promote the PNG and
25 
ensure the LGUs to support the PNG as the country's premier sports event;
26 
j) To establish a mediation body, including its rules and procedures, to resolve
27 
disputes related to the conduct of the PNG;
28 
k) To provide incentives and rewards to host LGU and winning LSCs;


1 
I) To enter into contracts or obligations essential for the accomplishment of its
2 
purposes and objectives;
3 
m) To assess the conduct of the PNG and submit an annual report to Congress; and
4 
n) To exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the effective
5 
implementation of this Act.
6 
SEC. 8. Secretary General. - The Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission
7 
shall serve as the Secretary General of the PNG.
8 
The Secretary General shall recommend to the Board the composition of the PNG
9 
Secretariat and all the activities undertaken by the latter. Including the utilization of funds
10 
for the preparations, organization and conduct of the PNG. The Secretariat, which shall
11 
come from the existing personnel of the PSC, the DILG, and the POC shall directly manage
12 
the conduct of the PNG.
13 
SEC 9. Roles of Concerned Agencies.- The following government agencies,
14 
instrumentalities and entities shall be tasked to perform the following roles and
15 
responsibilities:
16 
(1) Philippine Sports Commission.
17 
a) To carry out overall management, coordination and implementation of the PNG;
18 
b) To provide manpower, technical resources and sports facilities; and
19 
c) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.
20 
(2) Department of the Interior and Local Government.
21 
a) To mandate all LGUs to coordinate, cooperate and support the plans, programs
22 
and activities of the PNG;
23 
b) To direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a comprehensive
24 
security plan for the LGU venues where the PNG shall be held;
25 
c) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.


(3) Department of Education.
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3
4
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a) To align the Pafarong Pambansa calendar of activities, programs and policies 
to the conduct of the PNG;
b) To allow the use of school buildings and classrooms as billeting centers;
c) To allow DepEd teachers, who are licensed or accredited technical officials of 
the national sports associations, to officiate In the games; and
d) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the 
Board.
9 
(4) Commission on Higher Education.
10 
a) To promote the program and activities of the PNG to all higher educational
11 
institutions;
12 
b) To recommend to the state universities and colleges the use of their school
13 
buildings and classrooms as billeting centers;
14 
c) To Issue memorandum orders on the alignment of tertiary sports events and
15 
calendar of activities to the PNG; and;
16 
d) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.
17 
(5) Local Government Units.
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a) To organize within their jurisdiction a multi-sectoral group to serve as their Local
19 
Sports Council (LSC) which shall have the authority to accredit and to allow
20 
athletes to participate in the Games;
21 
b) To recruit, train, select and develop athletes who will compete in the PNG, and
22 
organize local competitions within their respective jurisdictions; and
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c) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.
24
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(6) Philippine Olympic Committee.
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a) To supervise all participating National Sports Associations involved in the PNG; and
28 
b) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.


1 
(7) National Sports Associations.
2 
a) To set the qualifications for athletes participating in different events based on
3 
their international federations' rules and regulations;
4 
b) To provide technical assistance in the conduct of their respective sports
5 
competitions in the PNG, Including the appointment of qualified officiating officials;
6 
c) To conduct regional or cluster qualifying competitions, as may be required by any
7 
sports association, in coordination with the PSC and the host l_SC;
8 
d) To allow the participation of all athletes, including national athletes, entered by
9 
the LSCs regardless of their membership status with their respective NSAs:
10 
Provlded/ That:
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i. The athlete conforms and agrees to abide by the competition rules and
12 
regulations of the NSA; and
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ii. The athlete is not under any sanction by the concerned National Sports
14 
Association or International Federation.
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SEC. 10. The Local Sports Councils (LSC). - The LSCs organized by their
16 
respective LGUs shall be headed by the provincial governor or the city mayor. For
17 
purposes of this Act, the LSC shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
18 
(a) 
To encourage, promote and organize local sports competitions within
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their respective jurisdictions;
20 
(b) 
To recruit, train, and select athletes for participation in the PNG;
21 
(c) To develop and maintain a pool of local athletes and provide them with
22 
the necessary assistance;
23 
(d) 
To enter athletes In the PNG and its corresponding regional and cluster
24 
qualifying competitions;
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(e) To be responsible for the entire delegation entered in the PNG, and ensure
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the compliance of their athletes with the eligibility rules of the PNG;
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(f) To enter an athlete in any sports event subject to PNG rules, provided said athlete
28 
is not under any sanction by the concerned National Sports Association or
29 
International Federation;


1 
(g) To give athletes the authority to represent their respective LSC in the PNG
2 
and corresponding regional and cluster qualifying competitions; and
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(h)To carry only the name of the LSC that it represents;
4 
SEC. 11. Participation Rules. - To participate in the PNG, all athletes shall be
5 
governed and must comply the following rules:
6 
(a) Eligibility
7 
1) All Filipinos by birth, including those residing outside of the Philippines
8 
but are of Filipino ancestry, shall be eligible to participate in the PNG;
9 
2) The qualifying age for different events shall be determined by the NSAs
10 
based on their international federations' rules and regulations; and
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3) Compliance with other eligibility rules and regulations that may be
12 
prescribed by the PNG, LSC and concerned NSA.
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(b) Representation
1) Athletes shall, at all times, represent only the LSC that entered its name 
in the PNG or in any regional or cluster qualifying competitions;
2) No athlete shall likewise be allowed to carry, represent or promote any 
public or private organization, enterprise or sponsor in the PNG.
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SEC. 12. Appropriations. - In order to provide the necessary funds required for
19 
the proper Implementation of this program, the following funding shall be made available:
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(a) For the preparations, organization and operations of the biennial 
PNG, including the organization of the different regional and cluster qualifying 
competitions, the amount of One Hundred Eighty million pesos 
(Phpl80,000,000.00) annually shall be appropriated by the National Treasury, 
and will form part of the General Appropriations Fund of the PSC. This Fund 
shall include the cost of staging the PNG particularly the expenses covering the 
operations of the sports competitions, including the expenses for competition 
officials and personnel, meal allowances, logistics for the accommodation of all 
participating athletes and team officials, purchase of necessary competition


1 
equipment, rental of venues for competition, opening ceremonies. Incentives
2 
and rewards for athletes and L5Cs; and
3 
(b) For the preparation, training and participation of the athletes in the PNG, the
4 
LGUs shall be authorized to appropriate at least one percent (1% ) of their
5 
annual "Internal Revenue Allotment" (IRA) and if the need arises charge the
6 
amounts necessary to their "Special Activity Fund" or their "Special Education
7 
Fund" as may be allowed by existing laws. For this purpose, all LGUs shall also
8 
be allocated annually an additional IRA equivalent to one percent (1% )
9 
thereof.
10 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The PSC, in coordination
11 
with the DILG, DepEd, CHED, POC, and NSAs, shall promulgate the rules and regulations
12 
to implement the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.
13 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid
14 
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
15 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders. Issuances, decrees,
16 
rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed
17 
amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
18 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
19 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
20
Approved,