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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES TO 
NATIONAL ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT 
FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The historic win of Hidilyn Diaz at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 
Tokyo brought the Philippines its first-ever Olympic gold medal. But prior 
to this, she has consistently and continuously made the Philippines proud 
by being the youngest contender at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the age 
of 17, bringing home the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in 20 years at 
the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the first gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games 
held in Indonesia, among other accolades.  
At present, the Philippines has won 14 medals in the Olympics: 
a. Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting) – Gold (2020 Tokyo), Silver (2016
Rio);
b. Nesthy Petecio (boxing) – Silver (2020 Tokyo)
c. Carlo Paalam (boxing) – Silver (2020 Tokyo)
d. Eumir Marcial (boxing) – Bronze (2020 Tokyo)
e. Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco (boxing) – Silver (1996 Atlanta);
f. Roel Velasco (boxing) – Bronze (1992 Barcelona);
g. Leopoldo Serantes (boxing) – Bronze (1988 Seoul);
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h. Anthony Villanueva (boxing) – Silver (1964 Tokyo);
i. Miguel White (athletics) – Bronze (1936 Berlin);
j. Jose Villanueva (boxing) – Bronze (1932 Los Angeles);
k. Simeon Toribio (athletics) – Bronze (1932 Los Angeles); and
l. Teodoro Yldefonso (swimming) – Bronze (1932 Los Angeles),
Bronze (1928 Amsterdam).
Behind their achievements are innumerable stories of hard work and 
perseverance. This is no less true with other sports heroes in various 
disciplines of athletics, who have devoted their lives to honing their craft 
and bringing honor to the country. 
Thus, to recognize outstanding athletes who serve as inspiration to 
countless Filipinos in the field of sports, this bill seeks to grant distinctive 
honors and privileges to Filipino sports heroes. The bill also seeks to 
establish the Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund, which shall be used to 
provide lifetime emoluments to National Athletes, as well as to support the 
needs of awardees so they can continue to participate in local as well as 
international sports competitions as Philippine delegates.  
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES TO 
NATIONAL ATHLETES, CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT 
FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Bayaning 
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Atletang Filipino Act." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State 
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to promote excellence in the field of sports and foster the values of 
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sportsmanship, patriotism, and nationalism in order to support nation-
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building and development. 
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SEC. 3. The Order of National Athletes. - There is hereby 
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established the Order of National Athletes (Orden ng mga Pambansang 
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Atleta) which shall be the highest honor the Government of the Philippines 
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shall confer to its outstanding sports heroes who have brought immense 
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pride and honor to the country and have dedicated their lives towards the 
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advancement of their sports. 
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The Order shall be under the National Orders of Cultural and 
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Scientific Merit pursuant to Executive Order No. 236, S. 2003. It shall be 
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administered by the Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino, otherwise 
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known as the Komite, created under Section 6 of this Act, and conferred 
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by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by the 
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Committee. 
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Awardees of the Order of National Athletes shall enjoy the following 
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privileges: 
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a. 
The rank and title of National Athlete, as proclaimed by the 
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President of the Philippines; 
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b. 
The National Athlete medallion and citation; 
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c. 
Lifetime emolument and material benefits, such as: 
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1. 
A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of 
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taxes for living awardees; 
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2. 
A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of 
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taxes for posthumous awardees, payable to legal heir/s; 
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3. 
A monthly life pension and medical and hospitalization 
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benefits; 
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4. 
Life insurance coverage for awardees who are still 
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insurable; 
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5. 
A 
place 
of 
honour 
in 
state 
functions, 
national 
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commemoration ceremonies, and all other sports and 
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cultural events; and, 
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6. 
A state funeral, the arrangements for and the expenses of 
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which shall be borne by the Government, upon the death 
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of the National Athlete. 
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SEC. 4. The National Medal of Excellence in Sports. - There is 
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hereby established the National Medal of Excellence in Sports 
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(Pambansang Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Husay sa Isports) for 
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outstanding individuals and team achievements in international sports 
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competitions. The President of the Philippines shall confer the National 
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Medal of Excellence in Sports upon recommendation by the Committee. 
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SEC. 5. The Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship. - There is 
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hereby established the Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship (Gawad 
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Balangay) for heroic sportsmanship shown by athletes during 
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international and local competitions exemplifying the values of honesty, 
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fairness, selflessness, sacrifice, amity and good will. The President of the 
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Philippines shall confer the Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship upon 
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recommendation by the Committee. 
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SEC. 6. Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino. - The Komite ng 
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Bayaning Atletang Filipino shall be under the Office of the President, and 
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shall be composed of the following: 
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a) 
Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), as  
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Chairman; 
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b) 
Secretary of the Department of Education or an authorized 
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representative, as Member; 
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c) 
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education or an 
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authorized representative, as Member; 
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d) 
President of the Philippine Olympic Committee or an 
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authorized representative, as Member; 
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e) 
Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission or an authorized 
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representative, as Member; 
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f) 
Chairperson of the National Youth Commission or an 
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authorized representative, as Member; and 
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g) 
Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the 
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Philippines or an authorized representative, as Member. 
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For the purposes of this Act, all authorized representatives shall 
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have at least the rank of Assistant Secretary.  
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SEC. 7. Role and Function of the Komite ng Bayaning Atletang 
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Filipino. - The Komite shall approve the criteria, standards, nomination 
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and selection processes, and benefits and privileges of the recipients of 
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the awards under this Act. 
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SEC. 8. National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes. - There is 
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hereby established a National Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes to 
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exclusively fund the benefits provided in this Act and to support the 
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continuous trainings of all the awardees and their participation or 
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exposure in international competitions. 
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a. 
The amount of One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is 
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hereby appropriated as seed money of the Endowment Fund: 
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Provided, That no grant shall be awarded by the Komite except 
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from the interest drawn from the Fund: Provided, further, That 
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no grant shall be awarded until after one (1) year from the 
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organization of the Fund; 
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b. 
Government corporations are hereby authorized to give grants 
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to the Fund at their discretion, but not to exceed fifteen percent 
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(15%) of their unimpaired surplus; 
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c. 
The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from the 
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donations and other conveyances, including funds, materials, 
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property, and services, by gratuitous title; 
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d. 
Contribution to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax 
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purposes in accordance with the provisions of Section 34 
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(h)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended;  
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e. 
For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the 
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Committee shall appoint a reputable government-accredited 
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investment institution as Fund Manager, subject to the 
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guidelines promulgated by the Komite; 
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f. 
The Committee shall be the administrator of the Fund, and as 
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such, shall prepare the implementing guidelines and decision-
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making mechanisms, subject to the following: 
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1. 
Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only 
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earnings of private contributions shall be used; 
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2. 
No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings 
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thereof, shall be used to underwrite overhead expenses 
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for administration; 
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3. 
The Committee shall organize a separate staff to be 
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headed by a comptroller appointed by and directly 
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responsible and accountable to the Komite; and 
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4. 
There shall be an external auditor that will perform an 
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annual audit of the Fund’s performance. 
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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety 
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(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Komite shall promulgate the 
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 10. Appropriations. - The amount of One billion pesos 
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(P1,000,000,000.00) to serve as seed money of the National Endowment 
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Fund for Sports Heroes as provided in Section 8 of this Act is hereby 
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appropriated. The amount necessary for initial implementation of this Act 
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shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Philippine 
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Sports Commission. Thereafter, such appropriations necessary for the 
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continuation and enhancement of the program shall be included in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 11. Separability. - If any provision or part of this Act is 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
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affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, 
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administrative orders, and parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of 
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this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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