Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5684

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIV Section 19, Paragraph 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State shall
promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur
sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and
excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.”

Consistent with this constitutional provision, this proposed measure seeks to provide a structure
for a truly integrated and comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports
promotion to elite sports development and encourage all local government officials to promote
the development of sports in the countryside covering all barangays, towns, municipalities, cities
and provinces. This bill shall likewise encourage and assist various National Sports Associations
in promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level providing the necessary linkages with
local government units.

(On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City's Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

|

‘S. TAMBUNTIN'
District, Parafiaque City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8684

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR,

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 known as the "Philippine National Games Act"

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. - Article IV, Section 19 (1) of the 1987 Constitution provides
that the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league
competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international sports competitions, to
foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert
citizenry.

Pursuant thereto, it is incumbent upon the State to institutionalize a genuine comprehensive
national grassroots sports program which serves as the country's premier national sports
competition and venue for the nationwide talent search for identifying and developing outstanding
athletes who have the potential to excel in various sports, and place the country at the forefront
of international sports competitions.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — The objectives of the Philippine National Games (PNG) are as follows:

a) To provide a framework and structure for a truly integrated and comprehensive national
spurts program linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports development;

To serve as the government's premier national sports competition to be held once every
two years;

©) To encourage all local government officials to promote the development of sports in the
countryside covering all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays,

To serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations in promoting their respective
sports at the grassroots level providing the necessary linkages with local government
units; and

To widen the base for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of athletes that
shall constitute the national pool to be trained for international sports competitions.

b)

s

2


SEC. 4. Preparatory Sports Program. - The Palarong Pambansa provided for under Republic
Act Number 10588, and other local sports competitions organized by the local government units
or the private sector, shall serve as "feeder" and preparatory sports program for the PNG.

SEC. 5. Establishment of the Philippine National Games Board. — A Philippine National
Games Board, hereinafter referred to as the "Board", is hereby created as the lead policy-making
and coordinating body for the preparation and conduct of the PNG.

The members of the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual traveling and other
expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members thereof, subject to
pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 6. Membership of the Board. ~ The Board shall have seven (7) members composed of
the following:

a) Executive Secretary ~ Chairperson
b) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government ~ Vice Chairperson
©) Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission - Secretary General

d) Secretary of the Department of Education - Member

) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education - Member

f) President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) - Member

SEC. 7. Functions and Duties of the Board. — The Board shall perform the following functions
and duties:

E)

To formulate policies and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the PNG, and the

relationships among the organizations involved;

b) To form an Executive Committee which shall be headed by a Secretary General in-charge
for the day-to-day operations of the PNG;

©) To recognize the Local Sports Councils to be given authority to enter athletes and teams
in the PNG;

d) To determine the venue and schedule of the PNG;

e) To determine the sports to be included which shall be aligned with the sports participated
by the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Olympics and other
mandatory international sports events;

f) To establish an advisory council composed of public or private individuals, organizations
or entities necessary for the success of the PNG;

g) To create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee;

h) To determine the regional or cluster qualifying competitions, including the qualifying
standards, consistent with the rules of the respective NSAS;

i) To develop and recommend programs and policies that will promote the PNG and ensure
the LGUs to support the PNG as the country's premier sports event;

3) To establish a mediation body, including its rules and procedures, to resolve disputes
related to the conduct of the PNG;

k) To provide incentives and rewards to host LGU and winning LSCs;

1) Toenter into contracts or obligations essential for the accomplishment of its purposes and

objectives;


m) To assess the conduct of the PNG and submit an annual report to Congress; and
n) To exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 8. Secretary General. — The Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission shall serve as
the Secretary General of the PNG.

The Secretary General shall recommend to the Board the composition of the PNG Secretariat and
all the activities undertaken by the latter, including the utilization of funds for the preparations,
organization and conduct of the PNG. The Secretariat, which shall come from the existing
personnel of the PSC, the DILG, and the POC shall directly manage the conduct of the PNG.

SEC 9. Roles of Concerned Agencies. — The following government agencies, instrumentalities
and entities shall be tasked to perform the following roles and responsibilities:

1) Philippine Sports Commission.
a) To carry out overall management, coordination and implementation of the PNG;
b) To provide manpower, technical resources and sports facilities; and
©) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.

2) Department of the Interior and Local Government.
a) To mandate all LGUs to coordinate, cooperate and support the plans, programs. and
activities of the PNG;
b) To direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a comprehensive
security plan for the LGU venues where the PNG shall be held;
c) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.

3

Department of Education.

a) To align the Palarong Pambansa calendar of activities, programs and policies to the
conduct of the PNG;

b) To allow the use of school buildings and classrooms as billeting centers;

©) To allow DepEd teachers, who are licensed or accredited technical officials of the
national sports associations, to officiate in the games; and

d) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.

4)

Commission on Higher Education.

a) To promote the program and activities of the PNG to all higher educational institutions;

b) To recommend to the state universities and colleges the use of their school buildings
and classrooms as billeting centers;

©) To issue memorandum orders on the alignment of tertiary sports events and calendar
of activities to the PNG; and;

d) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.

5) Local Government Units.


6)

a

a

To organize within their jurisdiction a multi-sectoral group to serve as their Local
Sports Council (LSC) which shall have the authority to accredit and to allow athletes
to participate in the Games;

To recruit, train, select and develop athletes who will compete in the PNG, and
organize local competitions within their respective jurisdictions; and

©) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.

b)

Philippine Olympic Committee,

a) To supervise all participating National Sports Associations involved in the PNG; and
b) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board.

National Sports Associations.

a) To set the qualifications for athletes participating in different events based on their
international federations’ rules and regulations;
b) To provide technical assistance in the conduct of their respective sports competitions
in the PNG, including the appointment of qualified officiating officials;
©) To conduct regional or cluster qualifying competitions, as may be required by any
sports association, in coordination with the PSC and the host LSC;
d) To allow the participation of all athletes, including national athletes, entered by the
LSCs regardless of their membership status with their respective NSAs: Provided, That:
i, The athlete conforms and agrees to abide by the competition rules and
regulations of the NSA; and
ii, The athlete is not under any sanction by the concerned National Sports
Association or International Federation.

SEC. 10. The Local Sports Councils (LSC). - The LSCs organized by their respective LGUs
shall be headed by the provincial governor or the city mayor. For purposes of this Act, the LSC
shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a)

b)
°

1)

e)

)

t)
h)

To encourage, promote and organize local sports competitions within their respective
jurisdictions;

To recruit, train, and select athletes for participation in the PNG;

To develop and maintain a pool of local athletes and provide them with the necessary
assistance;

To enter athletes in the PNG and its corresponding regional and cluster qualifying
competitions;

To be responsible for the entire delegation entered in the PNG, and ensure the compliance
of their athletes with the eligibility rules of the PNG;

To enter an athlete in any sports event subject to PNG rules, provided said athlete is not
under any sanction by the concerned National Sports Association or International
Federation;

To give athletes the authority to represent their respective LSC in the PNG and
corresponding regional and cluster qualifying competitions; and

To carry only the name of the LSC that it represents;


SEC. 11. Participation Rules. - To participate in the PNG, all athletes shall be governed and
must comply the following rules:

a) Eligibility
1) All Filipinos by birth, including those residing outside of the Philippines but are of
Filipino ancestry, shall be eligible to participate in the PNG;
2) The qualifying age for different events shall be determined by the NSAs based on their
international federations’ rules and regulations; and
3) Compliance with other eligibility rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the
PNG, LSC and concerned NSA.

b) Representation
1) Athletes shall, at all times, represent only the LSC that entered its name in the PNG or
in any regional or cluster qualifying competitions;
2) No athlete shall likewise be allowed to carry, represent or promote any public or private
organization, enterprise or sponsor in the PNG.

SEC. 12. Appropriations. — In order to provide the necessary funds required for the proper
implementation of this program, the following funding shall be made available:

a) For the preparations, organization and operations of the biennial PNG, including the
organization of the different regional and cluster qualifying competitions, the amount of
One Hundred Eighty million pesos (Php 180,000,000.00) annually shall be appropriated
by the National Treasury, and will form part of the General Appropriations Fund of the
PSC. This Fund shall include the cost of staging the PNG particularly the expenses covering
the operations of the sports competitions, including the expenses for competition officials
and personnel, meal allowances, logistics for the accommodation of all participating
athletes and team officials, purchase of necessary competition equipment, rental of
venues for competition, opening ceremonies, incentives and rewards for athletes and
LSCs; and

For the preparation, training and participation of the athletes in the PNG, the LGUs shall,
be authorized to appropriate at least one percent (1%) of their annual "Internal Revenue
Allotment” (IRA) and if the need arises charge the amounts necessary to their "Special
Activity Fund" or their "Special Education Fund" as may be allowed by existing laws. For
this purpose, all LGUs shall also be allocated annually an additional IRA equivalent to one
percent (1%) thereof.

b)

SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — The PSC, in coordination with the DILG,
DepEd, CHED, POC, and NSAs, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.

SEC. 14. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules and
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,
modified or repealed accordingly.


SEC. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,