Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6236
House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In an effort to promote sports competition to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote human liberation
and development, the passage of the Bill for the creation of the Philippine
Boxing and Combat Sports Commission is hereby proposed. The main
objectives for the passage of this Bill are the promotion and development
of professional boxing and combat sports in the Philippines, promotion
and development of world-class professional boxers and combatants, and
protection of the welfare of professional boxers and combatants. If these
objectives are achieved, the Filipino boxers and combatants will be able to
maintain and even further develop its status as world-class athletes.

Considering the growing number of Filipino boxers and combatants,
it is about time that they are given adequate support in order for them to
flourish in their respective fields while they give glory and honor to our
country.

This Bill is intended to establish the Philippine Boxing and Sports
Commission which shall be the sole agency that shall establish and
regulate policies related to professional boxing and combat sports.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

Qu COW,

ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5236

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ
TE

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE BOXING AND COMNAT SPORTS
COMMISSION AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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
“Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the
State to promote sports competition to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote human
liberation and development. The State shall promote excellence in
professional boxing and combat sports by establishing a commission
that will formulate and implement a national policy

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) Boxer refers to an individual who fights another in a boxing

match;

(b) Combat sports refer to any or a combination of any of the

following:
a. Boxing or fist fighting in any of its styles;
b. Kickboxing in any of its styles; and


c. Any sport, martial art, or activity that involves, in
accordance with applicable regulations, striking,
kicking, hitting, grappling, throwing and/or punching
opponents;

(c) Combatant refers to a person who engages in combat sports
as a contestant in a professional combat sports contest

(d)License refers to a document issued by the Philippine Boxing
and Combat Sports Commission authorizing a person or
entity to perform duties connected with professional boxing
and combat sports;

(e) Manager refers to a person who receives compensation for
service as an agent or representative of a professional boxer
or combatant;

(f) Permit refers to a document issued by the Philippine Boxing
and Combat Sports Commission authorizing a person or
entity to hold, promote, or engage in the conduct or operation
of a professional boxing or combat sports match;

(g) Professional boxer refers to a boxer who is issued a license or
permit by the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports
Commission to fight in a boxing match for a sum of money
or other compensation such as a salary or prize money;

(h) Professional boxing match refers to a boxing match between
professional boxers who shall receive money or other
compensation for fighting in said match, but shall not refer
to a boxing contest that is regulated by an amateur sports
organization

(i) Professional sports combatant refers to a person who is
issued a license or permit by the Philippine Boxing and
Combat Sports Commission to fight in a professional combat
sports match for a sum of money or other compensation such
as a salary, prize; and

(j) Promoter refers to a person, group of persons, or an entity,
licensed as such by the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports
Commission and primarily responsible for organizing,


promoting and producing a professional boxing or combat
sports match. The term “promoter” does not include a hotel,
casino, resort, or other commercial establishment hosting or
sponsoring a professional boxing or combat sports match
unless:

a. The hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial
establishment is primarily responsible for organizing,
promoting and producing the match; or

b. There is no person or group of persons primarily
responsible for organizing, promoting. and producing
the match.

SECTION 4. Creation of the Philippine Boxing and Combat
Sports Commission. - To carry out the above declared policy, the
Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission, hereinafter
referred to as “The Commission”, is hereby created. The Commission
shall be attached to the Office of the President and shall have the
same status as a national regulatory agency.

SECTION 5. Objectives. - The Commission shall have the

following objectives:

a. To strengthen professional boxing and combat sports in the
Philippines and promote the development of world-class
professional boxers and sports combatants; and

b. To establish policies related to and regulate professional
boxers and combats, and protect the welfare of professional
boxers and combatants

SECTION 6. Composition. - The Commission shall be
composed of a Chairperson and four (4) members who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines: Provided, that the
Chairperson and two (2) of the members shall be chosen from the
nominees of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), one (1) from


the nominees of the Department of Health (DOH), and one (1) from
the private sector.

For succeeding appointments to the Commission, the
nominations by the PSC and the DOH shall be submitted to the Office
of the President thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the term of
office of the incumbents, or within thirty (30) days from the
occurrence of any vacancy in the Commission. The nominees shall
be of known integrity and shall have nationally recognized experience
and comprehensive knowledge in professional boxing and combat
sports.

SECTION 7. Term of Office. - The term of office of the
Chairperson and members of the Commission shall be six (6) years:
Provided, that no vacancy shall be filled except for the unexpired
portion of any term. The Chairperson and members of the
Commission may be suspended or removed by the President of the
Philippines.

SECTION 8. Meeting and Quorum. - The Commission shall
meet regularly once a month and as often as the exigencies of the
service may demand, upon the call of the Chairperson or upon the
request of at least three (3) members of the Commission. The
presence of fifty percent (50%) of the entire membership of the
Commission plus one member shall be required in order to constitute
a quorum. The vote of a majority of the entire membership of the
Commission shall be necessary to for the adoption of any rule,
resolution or decision.

SECTION 9. Allowances and Per Diems. - The members of
the Commission shall receive a per diem for each meeting actually
attended by them at the rates to be approved by the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM).


SECTION 10. Powers and Duties of the Commission. - The
Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

a. Formulate, initiate, plan and implement a national policy for
the development of professional boxing and combat sports;

b. Formulate, review, and update the rules and procedures
related to professional boxing and combat sports in
conformity with international standards;

c. Establish a system of registration and licensing of boxers,
combatants, referees, trainers, seconds, cut man, and other
personnel, and maintain an_ integrated registry of
professional boxers, combatants, coaches, trainers, judges,
referees, and promoters;

d. Establish rules, set requirements, and collect fees for the
grant or renewal of license to a professional boxer,
combatant, coach or trainer, promoter or judge or referee,
and a permit for a professional boxing or combat sports
match;

e. Suspend or revoke a license or permit;

f. Establish a consultative mechanism which shall provide a
forum for continuing dialogue between all stakeholders in
the implementation of all laws, policies, programs, and
projects relating to boxing and combat sports;

g. Act as a quasi-judicial board when it shall deem necessary
to initiate, hear, and decide any investigation for any
violation of its rules and regulations and, in connection
therewith, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum;

h. Determine and set a safety standard for and ensure that
emergency medical personnel and services are available in
every professional boxing match and combat sports in the
Philippines;

i, Seek or request the assistance and support of any
government agency, office or instrumentality including
GOCCs, LGUs as well as non-governmental organizations or
institutions in pursuit of its policies;


j. Establish and maintain linkages with international boxing
and combat sports organizations or institutions and
counterpart agencies of foreign governments in order to
facilitate and ensure the participation of Filipino professional
boxers and combatants in international events;

k, Allocate resources for the implementation of national policies
related to boxers and combatants;

1, Submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act
to the President and to Congress; and

m.Perform such other functions as may be deemed necessary
to the effective and efficient carrying out of the provisions of
this Act.

The functions of the Games and Amusements Board as well as
other entities related to boxing and combat sports are hereby
transferred to the Commission.

SECTION 11. Secretariat. - The Commission shall have a
secretariat, which shall be headed by an Executive Director and such
other technical and administrative as may be determined by the
Commission. The Secretariat shall implement the policies and
programs approved by the Commission and administer its day to day
functions. The salaries, allowances, and other emoluments of the
Secretariat shall be determined by the Commission in accordance
with civil service rules, the salary standardization law, and other
relevant and existing laws.

SECTION 12. Physical and Medical Examination
Requirements. - No person may arrange, promote, organize,
produce, or fight in a professional boxing and combat sports match
without a physical and diagnostic examination for each participating
professional boxer or combatant conducted by a licensed physician
accredited by the Commission who certifies that the boxer or
combatant is physically fit to safely compete.


SECTION 13. Mandatory Rest Period. - There shall be an
interval between boxing contests and combat sports matches which
shall be referred to as mandatory rest period. The duration of the
mandatory rest period shall be determined by the Commission.

SECTION 14. Emergency Medical Services. - A professional
boxing and combat sports match may be held only
a. A licensed practicing physician, whose services are paid by
the promoter and duly registered with the Commission, is
continuously present at the ringside of the professional

boxing and combat sports match;

b. Ambulance services and other medical personnel equipped
with appropriate resuscitation equipment, including oxygen
tanks, are continuously present within the immediate
vicinity of the ring; and

c. A tertiary hospital is near the vicinity of the event: Provided,
that a memorandum of agreement shall be executed between
the promoter of the professional boxing and combat sports
match and the hospital to ensure that the injured boxers and
combatants shall be attended to in their facility with
dispatch.

The absence of any of the aforementioned requirements shall

be a cause for the cancellation of the permit to hold the professional
boxing and combat sports match.

SECTION 15. Social Pension and Health Care Benefits. - All
professional boxers and combatants shall be enrolled in the Social
Security System (SSS), National Health Insurance Program -
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Home
Development Mutual Fund of PAG-IBIG, and shall be entitled to all
the benefits in accordance with the pertinent provisions of law. The
SSS shall develop and administer a separate social security program
for boxers and combatants. This program may have different
contribution, pension, and other benefit schemes. The premium


payments or other contributions shall be shouldered by the promoter
of the professional boxers and combatants.

SECTION 16. Boxing and Other Combat Sports Officials. -
All the boxing and combat sports officials involved in any match shall
not receive funds or compensation in any form, directly or indirectly,
from the promoter or its agents. Such funds or compensation shall
be coursed through and collected by the Commission for appropriate
disbursement.

SECTION 17. Alternative Livelihood Programs for Retired
and/or injured Professional Boxers and Combatants. - The
Commission, in coordination with various stakeholders in the boxing
and combat sports industry shall establish an alternative livelihood
training program and referral system.

SECTION 18. Appropriations. - The amount needed to fund
the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 19. Boxers and Combatants Welfare Development
Trust Fund. - There shall be an independent and separate trust
fund established under this Act to be administered by the
Commission and exclusively used for the welfare benefits of
professional boxers and combatants. The Commission shall be
authorized to receive grants, donations, or endowments, whether
from domestic or foreign sources, for purposes related to its
functions, which shall accrue to the fund: Provided, that in cases of
donations from foreign governments, acceptance thereof shall be
subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines upon
recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

SECTION 20. Transitory Provision. - Pending the
organization of the Commission, the GAB shall continue to exercise
its duties and functions in relation to professional boxing and combat


sports. Such amount under the Boxer’s Welfare Fund under the GAB
shall thereafter be transferred to the Boxers and Combatants Welfare
Development Trust Fund of the Commission and shall form part of
the initial appropriations of the Commission.

SECTION 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -
The Commission, in consultation with the Department of Health,
Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education,
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department
of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corporation, PhilHealth, Social Security System, and other
concerned agencies shall promulgate and issue the implementing
rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days upon its
approval: Provided, that failure to promulgate the IRR shall not
prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.

SECTION 22. Separability Clause. - If any part of provision
of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be
in full force and effect.

SECTION 23. Repealing Clause. - Section 7 of Executive
Order No. 392, series of 1950, is hereby amended. Any other law,
presidential decree or issuance, executive order, rules or regulations,
or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a

newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,