SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1812 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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OCT -3 P5 :52 
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.' 
~'- 4h,.-4- .n~ 
# :vrIRIAM DEFWSOR S~TI"f0 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


~eI\l.lh' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
tl?th~r of t\lll ~2C~ tbe\! 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 Gel -3 P5 :52 
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SENATE 
S.No. 1812 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 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: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be cited as the "Professional Boxing Safety 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - One of the objectives of the State is to promote 
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health and safety standards particularly in the field of sports. Boxing, being a sport where a 
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player is susceptible to injury, requires government regulation and safety standards. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the term: 
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(A) 
"Boxer" means a person who participates in a professional boxing match; 
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(B) 
"Licensee" means an individual who serves as trainer, second, or cut man for a 
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professional boxer; 
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(C) 
"Manager" means a person or business that helps arrange professional boxing 
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matches for a boxer, and that serves as an advisor or representative of a boxer in a professional 
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capacity; 
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(D) 
"Matchmaker" means a person or business that proposes, selects, and arranges the 
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boxers to participate in a professional boxing match; 
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(E) 
"Professional boxing" match means a boxing contest held between individuals for 
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compensation or a prize, except amateur boxing contests; 
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(F) 
"Promoter" means a person or business that organizes, holds, advertises, or 
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otherwise conducts a professional boxing match; and 
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(G) 
"Games and Amusement Board" means a government agency that has the 
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authority to regulate professional boxing. It shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Board." 
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SECTION 4. Professional Boxing Matches.-
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(A) 
In General. - A professional boxing match may be held only if-
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
A licensed practicing physician, whose services are paid by the promoter, 
is continuously present at the ringside of the professional boxing match; 
The promoter has, in accordance with this subsection, provided-
(a) 
(b) 
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 
For an ambulance to be continuously present at the site of the 
boxing match; 
The Board has established procedures to carry out Sections 5 through 8 of 
this Act. 
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(B) 
Ambulance Service. -
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
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 
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certificate, the Board may cancel a professional boxing match without 
consulting the private organization if the Board or its appointed officials 
determines that-
(a) 
(b) 
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 
The cancellation of the professional boxing match is necessary to 
protect public health, safety, or welfare. 
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SECTION 5. Registration. -
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(A) 
Registration. - Each professional boxer shall register with the Board. 
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(B) 
Identification Card. -
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(C) 
(I) 
(2) 
Issuance. - The Board shall issue to each professional boxer who registers 
in accordance with Paragraph (A), an identification card that contains-
(a) 
(b) 
A recent photograph of the boxer; and 
Each personal identification number assigned to the boxer by the 
Board. 
Renewal. - Each professional boxer shall renew his or her identification 
card every two (2) years. 
Relation to Government Rules and Regulations. - Nothing in this section shall be 
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construed as preventing the government from applying additional registration requirements. 
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SECTION 6. Review. - The Board shall establish procedures-
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(A) 
To evaluate the professional records of each boxer participating in a boxing 
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match; 
(B) 
To ensure that no boxer is permitted to box while under suspension as meted by 
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the Board due to injury or other medical reasons, inc1uding-
(l) 
A recent knockout, injury, or requirement for a medical procedure; 
(2) 
Failure of a drug test; 
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(3) 
(4) 
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Poor boxing skills, or the inability to safely compete; or 
The use of false aliases, or falsifYing, or attempting to falsify, official 
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identification cards or documents. 
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SECTION 7. Insurance. - The Board, in carrying out the regulation of professional 
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boxing matches, shall require that a promoter provide insurance coverage, in an amount 
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determined by the appropriate government office, for each boxer who participates in a 
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professional boxing match that the promoter involved is conducting, to cover an injury sustained 
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while engaged in that match. 
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SECTION 8. Reporting. -
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(A) 
Boxing Match Results. - Not later than 48 business hours (excluding Saturdays 
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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 
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(2) 
any provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be imposed the penalty of 
imprisonment for not more than one (I) year or a fine of not more than 
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P I 00,000.00), or both. 
Boxers. - Any professional boxer who knowingly and willfully violates 
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any provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than 
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Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00). 
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SECTION 10. Consultation. - Not later than one (I) year after the date of enactment of 
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this Act, and annually thereafter, to exchange information concerning the implementation and 
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enforcement of this Act and to improve the safety and integrity of professional boxing as a sport, 
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the Board shall consult with-
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(A) 
The appropriate officials of the government; and 
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(8) 
Private organizations that assist in the regulation of professional boxing matches. 
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SECTION II. Pension Study. -
The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on the 
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feasibility and cost of a national pension system for professional boxers, including potential 
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funding sources. 
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Not later than one htmdred eighty (180) days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
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Secretary of Labor shall submit a report to the Congress on the findings of the study conducted 
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pursuant to this Section. 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
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and subsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effictivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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