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Rewblis of he Philipines A
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
exon City
Quexew Cit
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.8402

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR HEALTH AND WORK SAFETY STANDARDS
FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXERS

One sport where Filipinos have shown a good chance of excelling and attaining world
prominence is in boxing. Many of our countrymen have made the nation proud by
becoming world champions. Considering that it is a physically challenging sport, one that
exposes them to physical injuries, there is a need to safeguard their health and safety.

This bill seeks to establish and provide for the implementation of health and safety
standards relating to the conduct of professional boxing matches.

LUIS IND “LRAY’/F/VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Va)
Rebs. the Philipines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City
Y

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
Second Regular Session

House Bit no. 8402

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR HEALTH AND WORK SAFETY STANDARDS
FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXERS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be cited as the “Professional Boxing Safety Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — One of the objectives of the State is to promote
health and safety standards particularly in the field of sports. Boxing, being a sport where
a player is susceptible to injury, requires government regulation and safety standards.

SECTION 3. Definitions of Terms. — For the purpose of this Act, the term:

(A) “Boxer” means a person who participates in a professional boxing match;

(B) ‘Licensee’ means an individual who serves as trainer, second, or cut man for a
professional boxer;

(C) “Manager’ means a person or business that helps arrange professional boxing
matches for a boxer, and that serves as an advisor or representative of a boxer in a
professional capacity;

(D) “Matchmaker” means a person or business that proposes, selects, and arranges the
boxers to participate in a professional boxing match;

(E) ‘Professional boxing” match means a boxing contest held between individuals for
compensation or a prize, except amateur boxing contests;
(F) ‘Promoter’ means a person or business that organizes, holds, advertises, or

otherwise conducts a professional boxing match; and
(G) “Games and Amusement Board” means a government agency that has the authority



to regulate professional boxing. It shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Board.”

SECTION 4. Professional Boxing Matches. —
(A) In General. — A professional boxing match may be held only if—
(1) A licensed practicing physician, whose services are paid by the promoter, is
continuously present at the ringside of the professional boxing match;
(2) The promoter has, in accordance with this subsection, provided—

(a) For a physical examination of each boxer who participate in the
professional boxing match by a licensed practicing physician, to ensure
that each boxer is physically fit to compete in the boxing match; and

(b) For an ambulance to be continuously present at the site of the boxing
match;

(3) The Board has established procedures to carry out Sections 5 through 8 of this

Act.

(B) Ambulance Service. —

(1) In General. - If the promoter for that boxing match does not choose to provide
for such ambulance, the promoter shall, not later than 24 hours before that
boxing match, notify the nearest available ambulance service, including any
appropriate emergency medical service of that boxing match.

Costs. — The promoter for a professional boxing match shall pay the cost of any

ambulance service provided in conjunction with the conduct of that boxing

match.

Cancellation of Professional Boxing Matches. — If the Board issued a certificate

with a private boxing organization, notwithstanding that certificate, the Board

may cancel a professional boxing match without consulting the private
organization if the Board or its appointed officials determines that—

(a) The private professional boxing organization is not performing the
obligations of that organization that are specified in the contract in a
manner that is satisfactory to the chairman of the Board; or

(b) The cancellation of the professional boxing match is necessary to protect
public health, safety, or welfare.

(2)

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SECTION 5. Registration. —
(A) Registration, — Each professional boxer shall register with the Board.
(B) Identification Card. —
(1) Issuance. — The Board shall issue to each professional boxer who registers in
accordance with Paragraph (A), an identification card that contains—
(a) A recent photograph of the boxer; and
(b)Each personal identification number assigned to the boxer by the Board.
(2) Renewal. - Each professional boxer shall renew his or her identification card
every two (2) years.
(C) Relation to Government Rules and Regulations. — Nothing in this section shall be
construed as preventing the goverment from applying additional registration
requirements.

SECTION 6. Review. - The Board shall establish procedures—


(A) To evaluate the professional records of each boxer participating in a boxing match;
(B) To ensure that no boxer is permitted to box while under suspension as meted by the
Board due to injury or other medical reasons, including—
(1) Arecent knockout, injury, or requirement for a medical procedure;
(2) Failure of a drug test;
(3) Poor boxing skills, or the inability to safely compete; or
(4) The use of false aliases, or falsifying, or attempting to falsify, official
identification cards or documents.

SECTION 7. Insurance. - The Board, in carrying out the regulation of professional
boxing matches, shall require that a promoter provide insurance coverage, in an amount
determined by the appropriate government office, for each boxer who participates in a
professional boxing match that the promoter involved is conducting, to cover an injury
sustained while engaged in that match.

SECTION 8. Reporting. -

(A) Boxing Match Results. — Not later than 48 business hours (excluding Saturdays and
Sundays) after the conclusion of a professional boxing match, the results of such
boxing match shall be reported to the Board.

(B) Suspension. — Not later than forty eight (48) business hours (excluding Saturdays
and Sundays) after the Board orders the suspension of a boxer, promoter, or
manager, such suspension shall be reported to professional boxing associations
and other associations involved in professional boxing in the Philippines.

SECTION 9. Enforcement.

(A) Injunctions. — Whenever the Chairman of the Board has reasonable cause to believe
that a person or entity is engaged in a violation of this Act, the Chairman or its
representative may bring a civil action in the appropriate court requesting such relief,
including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order,
against the person or entity, as the Chairman determines to be necessary to restrain
the person or entity from continuing to engage in, or to sanction, a professional
boxing match in violation of this Act.

(B) Criminal Penalties. -

(1) Managers, Promoters, Matchmakers and Licensees. — Each manager,
promoter, matchmaker, or licensee who knowingly and willfully violates any
provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be imposed the penalty of
imprisonment for not more than one (1) year or a fine of not more than One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00), or both.

(2) Boxers. — Any professional boxer who knowingly and willfully violates any
provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than Five
Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00).

SECTION 10. Consultation. — Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter, to exchange information concerning the implementation
and enforcement of this Act and to improve the safety and integrity of professional boxing
as a sport, the Board shall consult with—


(A) The appropriate officials of the government; and
(B) Private organizations that assist in the regulation of professional boxing matches.

SECTION 11. Pension Study. — The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on the
feasibility and cost of a national pension system for professional boxers, including
potential funding sources.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor
shall submit a report to the Congress on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to
this Section.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. —- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,