Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1044 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Those who have less in life must have more in law. 
The Philippine Constitution affirms this ideal that it pledges to protect the rights of 
workers and promote their welfare in recognition of the role of labor as the primary 
economic force of the nation. Moreover, enshrined in our Constitution is the guarantee that 
the State shall promote the right of individuals towards adequate social services, full 
employment, improved quality of life, and increased standard of living. It formulates and 
adopts policies aimed at freeing the people from poverty. The State ensures this is realized 
through social protection programs and strategies that benefit the people, especially the 
marginalized and underprivileged. 
Among the marginalized workers deserving of attention are the golf caddies, whose 
compensation parallels that of workers in the informal sector. The informal sector 
encompasses individuals who earn daily wages and generally lack protection under the 
country's labor laws and regulations.  
According to the March 2022 Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine 
Statistics Authority (PSA), approximately 36.2 percent or 17.016 million of the employed 
population can be classified as informal sector workers. Their considerable numbers 
translate into significant contributions to the economy, as evidenced by data from the PSA 
indicating that the informal sector accounted for a substantial P5.013 trillion of the country's 
Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  
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6:24 pm


However, despite their vital role in sustaining the economy, workers in the informal 
sector often go unnoticed. This situation also extends to golf caddies, who provide their 
services to specific golf and country clubs without a formal employee-employer relationship. 
Hence, remuneration for golf caddies is typically given as "tips" or gratuity payments 
directly from golf players, following a standard going rate in the industry. Consequently, 
they lack job security, guaranteed pay or compensation, and protection against work-related 
injuries, accidents, or even death. 
Despite the inherent hardships associated with their profession, their untapped 
potential and aspirations for themselves and their families, golf caddies warrant recognition 
and support. Noteworthy is the background of Mayor Benjamin S. Abalos Sr. A proud caddy 
himself for a number of years who strove hard and transformed any perceived limitations 
into opportunities. He is an example of an individual who relied on odd jobs, including 
caddying, to support his studies to eventually achieve success. Although, it is important to 
acknowledge that not all caddies can achieve the same level of success as Mayor Abalos. 
However, the resilience, determination, and prevailing realities of golf caddies cannot be 
ignored. The State can minimize their vulnerability to risks by enacting laws and adopting 
programs that safeguard their well-being. 
This proposed measure aims to establish channels through which golf caddies, 
whose unprotected and unregulated occupations fall within the informal sector and are 
highly susceptible to economic disruptions, may access the government's social protection. 
This shall be achieved through the implementation of affordable daily contribution schemes 
or other comparable strategies. By bringing social protection initiatives closer to those in 
need, the allure of these services increases, alleviating the necessity for individuals to 
traverse multiple government offices merely to access the social protection to which they are 
inherently entitled. Furthermore, the bill endeavors to establish a welfare fund for caddies, 
ensuring their well-being in instances of work-related accidents, illnesses, or fatality. 
Finally, the measure is a step towards encouraging our golf caddies to create good 
habits. It is the hope of this representation that the sector will see this measure as an 
investment for their future and that of their families. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of the bill is earnestly sought. 
JC M. ABALOS 
Representative 
4Ps Partylist 
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1044 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING AND UPHOLDING THE WELFARE OF GOLF CADDIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Golf Caddies 
Welfare Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
ensure holistic growth and prosperity of the country that bears in mind the welfare 
and needs of the people. The State declares labor as an important force that drives 
economic and social growth. It shall ensure labor protection and welfare, primarily 
by providing opportunities for social protection and employment that promotes an 
improved quality of life of workers. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
a. Association refers to the golf caddies’ association which is a nonstock,
nonprofit corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange
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Commission (SEC) organized by duly accredited golf caddies of a 
public or private sports and/or golf country club. 
 
b.​ Contribution refers to the amount paid by a golf player that goes to the 
welfare fund for golf caddies. 
 
c.​ Country club refers to a publicly and privately owned and managed 
club that has a variety of recreational sports and facilities such as for 
dining, entertainment, and recreation. 
 
d.​ Golf caddy refers to any individual or any natural person who is hired, 
retained, or acts as an independent contractor to provide work or 
service to a golf player in exchange for wage or other forms of 
compensation. 
 
e.​ Golf club member refers to any person with preferential access to a golf 
country club’s course(s), facilities, and services in exchange for a fee. 
 
f.​ Golf course refers to any area of land laid out for golf with a series of 
holes including tee, fairway, and putting green and often one or more 
natural or artificial hazards. 
  
SEC. 4. Registration with the SEC. – Every association of golf caddies shall be 
required to register with the SEC. This registration shall serve as the juridical 
personality to all such associations that have not previously acquired the same by 
operation of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, or Republic Act No. 
11232, or by any other law. The existence of associations previously registered with 
the SEC shall be respected. 
 
 
CHAPTER II 
GOLF CADDIES’ ASSOCIATION 
 
SEC. 5. Qualification of a Member. – A golf caddy as defined under this Act 
shall be qualified to be a member of an association: Provided, That the golf caddy is 
accredited in the golf country club where he/she shall provide caddy services to the 
golf players of the country club where the association is recognized: Provided, further, 
That the golf caddy agrees to be bound by the rules of the association unless those 
rules are inconsistent with this Act or by any other law. 
 
SEC. 6. Rights of a Member. – A golf caddy member has full rights: 
a.​ to avail of and enjoy all services provided by the association; 
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b.​ to access the register of members and officers, rules and bylaws of 
association; 
c.​ to inspect association books and records, minutes of the meetings, and 
to be provided upon request with annual reports, including financial 
records; 
 
d.​ to participate, vote and be eligible for any elective or appointive office 
of the association subject to the qualifications as provided for in the 
bylaws; 
 
e.​ to participate in association meetings, elections and referenda, as long 
as he/she continues to be a bona fide member; and 
 
f.​ to enjoy all other rights as may be provided for in the association 
bylaws. 
 
SEC. 7. Duties of a Member. – A golf caddy member shall have the following 
duties: 
a.​ to attend meetings of the association; and 
b.​ to support and participate in projects and activities of the association. 
 
SEC. 8. Golf Caddies Database. – The golf country club local association, in 
coordination with the management of the golf country club, shall establish and 
maintain a database system that contains an updated roster of all golf caddies and 
other related service workers rendering work or service to the members and players 
of the golf country club. 
 
The database shall be in aid of the implementation of the Golf Caddies 
Welfare Fund pursuant to this Act: Provided, That management and processing of the 
database shall be in accordance with the General Data Privacy Principles found in 
the Data Privacy Act of 2012. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CHAPTER III 
GOLF CADDIES WELFARE FUND 
 
SEC. 9. Golf Caddies Welfare Fund (GCW Fund). – To carry out the purpose of 
this Act, the Golf Caddies Welfare Fund, herein referred to as GCW Fund, is hereby 
created. 
 
Golf caddies’ association, duly registered in the SEC, together with country 
club management or its representative, shall create a GCW Fund in their respective 
golf country clubs, public and private, within six (6) months upon the approval of 
this Act. The GCW Fund shall form a compensation package to golf caddies and/or 
their dependents in the event of work-related sickness, injury, death, retirement 
benefits, and other appropriate form of compensation thereof. The GCW Fund shall 
be created from the contribution of a golf player, either as a member or guest of a 
golf country club, who shall use the service of a golf caddy: Provided, That the golf 
caddy is accredited by the golf country club where the golf player shall make the 
contribution. 
 
SEC. 10. Management of GCW Fund. –  The GCW Fund shall be held-in-trust 
and managed by the Social Security System. The SSS shall have the authority to 
manage, invest, and reinvest the GCW Fund in favor of the golf caddies duly 
accredited by the golf clubs and members of their respective golf caddy associations. 
 
SEC. 11. Contributions. – A golf player shall contribute not less than One 
Hundred Pesos (Php 100.00) every time they acquire the services of an accredited 
golf caddy in a country club. Each contribution shall be credited to the GCW Fund 
account of the golf caddy who rendered services to the golf player contributor. 
 
All golf country clubs shall have GCW Fund Custodians who shall receive 
and record all contributions made to each golf caddy. The GCW Fund Custodians 
are composed of two (2) representatives from the golf caddies’ association and one 
(1) representative of the golf country club: Provided, That the representatives of the 
golf caddies’ association are appointed from the roster of its members. 
 
The GCW Fund Custodians shall provide an annual report to all its golf 
caddy members of all contributions and payments made to GCW Fund. 
 
SEC. 12. Tax Treatment of Investment Income. – All income earned from the 
investments and reinvestments of the GCW Fund is tax-exempt. 
 
SEC. 13. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all golf caddies, who render work 
or service to public and private golf country clubs, as beneficiaries of the 
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compensation package and other appropriate form of compensation thereof 
appropriated under the Golf Caddies Welfare Fund. 
  
SEC. 14. Eligibility of GCW Fund Benefits. – Golf Caddies and/or their 
dependents are eligible to receive compensation from their GCW Fund in the event 
of work-related sickness, injury, disability, and death. The compensation assistance 
shall be determined by the SSS and GCW Fund Custodians in cooperation with the 
accredited golf caddy associations and golf country club representatives. 
 
SEC. 15. Distribution of GCW Fund Benefits. – Distribution of all 
contributions and incomes derived from investment and reinvestment of the GCW 
Fund shall be made to a golf caddy upon discontinuance of service but whose GCW 
Fund account has been credited with at least 120 contributions. A golf caddy 
member may claim their GCW Fund benefits in lump-sum cash or opt to transfer 
contributions to their SSS account or other available SSS programs. 
  
 
CHAPTER IV 
SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS ACCESS 
 
SEC. 16. Access to Social Protection Programs. – To carry out the purpose of 
this Act, the government agencies in charge of social protection insurance programs 
including, but not limited to, Social Security System (SSS), the Philippine Health 
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Pagtutulungan sa Kinakbukasan: Ikaw, 
Bangko, Industriya, at Gobyerno (Pag-IBIG), shall establish, within sixty (60) days upon 
the approval of this Act, a procedure that will provide golf caddies access to their 
social protection insurance services through affordable daily contribution scheme, or 
any other mechanism of similar nature. 
  
All golf country clubs shall provide suitable dedicated space within the golf 
country club and/or golf course that shall be used by the SSS, PhilHealth, and 
Pag-IBIG personnel to conduct their social protection insurance procedure, or any 
other mechanism of similar nature: Provided, That the said suitable and dedicated 
space shall be accessible to golf caddies providing work or service to their golf 
country club or golf course: Provided, further, That payment of the SSS, PhilHealth, 
and Pag-IBIG contributions shall be voluntary and shouldered by the golf caddies. 
  
 
 
 
 
 
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CHAPTER V 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Social Security System, 
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), SEC, and other relevant 
stakeholders, shall formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations 
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
  
SEC. 18. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
  
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
  
SEC. 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
 
Approved, 
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