EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
^sjcuaie
® aitf c( ttjr ifrptrrtarp
'If SEP 11 PI 56
S E N A T E
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
GRANTING HEALTH CARE, RETIREMENT, AND DEATH BENEFITS TO 
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 
TITLES IN INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS OR 
IN OTHER EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 
GAMES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines consistently earns respect and adulation from all over the world 
due to the championships won by our professional athletes with world-class talents. 
Among those are Gabriel Elorde, Luisito Espinosa, Gerry Penalosa, Nonito Donaire, 
and Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao in the boxing arena; Lydia de Vega and Elma Muros- 
Posadas in Track and Field; Rafael Reyes, Francisco Bustamante and Rubilen Amit in 
Billiards; and Eugene Torre in Chess.
Most sports are physical in nature and many of our Filipino athletes risk their 
lives to become champions. Unlike other career professionals, the career lifespan of a 
professional athlete is short. Many do not reach the age of 40 before retiring, giving 
way to the much younger and stronger athletes. Some are forced to retire because 
they have passed the height of their careers. Others are just given bad breaks in life 
after winning a tie.
This bill seeks to provide health care and retirement privileges and death 
benefits to professional Filipino athletes who win world championship titles in


international professional sports competitions or in other equally prestigious world 
championship games, who have given honor, glory and pride to the Philippines, in 
both individual and team events through the following: (a) extend medical insurance 
and medical assistance to hospitalized professional Filipino champions, (b) grant a 
monthly pension of P15,000.00 to individual world champions at the retirement age 
of 50 years, and (c) death benefits to help in funeral services/expenses.
This bill recognizes the honor, glory and pride professional Filipino athletes have 
given our country, and also reassures them that their efforts are not forgotten.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
L "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator
r


[© il 
^cnati:-
7 (SUitf of llir fercrft«ri>
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
*15 S£F 11 PI 56
S E N A T E
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
GRANTING HEALTH CARE, RETIREMENT, AND DEATH BENEFITS TO 
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 
TITLES IN INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS OR 
IN OTHER EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 
GAMES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines 
in Congress be assembled:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
SECTION 1. Title. —  This Act shall be known as the "Professional Filipino 
Athletes Health Care, Retirement and Death Benefits Act."
SECTION 2. Declaration o f Policy. —  The State shall provide health care, 
retirement and death benefits to professional Filipino athletes who win world 
championship titles in international professional sports competitions or in other equally 
prestigious world championship games, in both individual and team events, in 
recognition of the glory and honor they bestowed to the Philippines.
SECTION 3. Definition o f Terms. —  For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows:
a. Professional Filipino athletes shall refer to athletes who are Filipino citizens 
and paid a sum of money or other compensation as a salary or prize money 
for participating in a game, bout, tournament, or contest of professional


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
sport, either as an individual contestant or as a member of a team under a 
contract entered into with a professional sports promoter/operator or team 
owner and licensed by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB);
b. Professional sports shd\\ refer to individual or team sports, games, contests, 
bouts, tournaments or competitions whereby the participating athlete is 
paid sums of money and other forms of compensation as regular salary or 
prize for participation, which are accredited and recognized by the GAB;
c. International professional sports competitions shall refer to international 
compensations that confer world championship titles in both individual and 
team events which are duly sanctioned and recognized by international 
sporting organizations and bodies and accredited by the GAB;
d. Other equally prestigious world championship games shall refer to other 
international professional sports competitions that confer the same rank or 
stature as world championship titles and recognized as such by the GAB.
SECTION 4. Health Care Benefits. —  Professional Filipino athletes shall be 
covered by the National Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), through a 
special program sponsored by the GAB, which will provide the required local 
government premium counterpart to be directly remitted to the PhilHealth. 
Upon reaching the age of fifty (50), the athlete shall be an honorary member 
of the program, subject to existing rules and regulations of the PhilHealth.
In case of hospitalization of the professional Filipino athlete in any 
hospital or clinic, any amount in excess of the PhilHealth benefit shall be 
shouldered by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under its 
Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP); Provided, That the requirement 
for qualification and grant of the health care assistance to be extended by the 
PCSO shall be made consistent with and subject to the compliance with PCSO's


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
1
existing rules and guidelines; Provided, further, That any qualified beneficiary 
shall have the option to waive the benefits mentioned under this section.
SECTION 5. Retirement Benefits. —  Professional Filipino athletes as 
defined under this Act, who win in international 
professional sports 
competitions shall, upon reaching the age of fifty (50), receive the following 
retirement benefits:
A. For individual events -  a lifetime monthly pension of at least fifteen 
thousand pesos (Php 15,000.00) for the individual winner;
B. For team sports events -  a lifetime monthly pension of at least ten 
thousand pesos (Php 10,000.00) for each team member;
Provided, That for athletes who win in both individual and team events, 
the retirement benefits for individual events shall apply.
Athletes who are actively employed at the time they reach the age of 
fifty (50) and have availed of retirement benefits under this Act may continue 
with such employment: Provided, That the retirement benefits under this Act 
shall be separate and distinct from the mandatory retirement benefits provided 
by existing laws.
SECTION 6. Death Benefits. —  Upon the death of the professional 
Filipino athlete, the primary beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum death 
benefit 
of 
fifty 
thousand 
pesos 
(Php 
50,000.00) 
to 
cover 
funeral 
services/expenses: Provided, That, if there are no primary beneficiaries, the 
secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to the said benefits.
For purposes of this Act, the primary beneficiaries shall refer to 
legitimate spouse, legitimate or illegitimate children. Secondary beneficiaries 
shall refer to the parents, and in their absence, to the brothers or sisters of 
the professional Filipino athlete.
SECTION 7. Retroactive Effect. —  The benefits provided under this Act 
shall retroact to all living professional Filipino athletes who, prior to the


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
1
enactment of this Act, have won in any international professional sports 
competition, upon compliance with the requirements that shall be prescribed 
by the GAB in its Implementing Rules and Regulations: Provided, That the 
winning professional Filipino athlete was duly licensed by the GAB at the time 
of the competition and the sports events participated in was recognized and 
accredited by the GAB.
SECTION 8. Adjustment o f Retirement Benefits. —  The adjustment in 
retirement benefits provided in Section 5 hereof may be authorized, subject to 
the approval of the President, upon the joint recommendation of the Secretary 
of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Chairman of the 
GAB, based on studies, consultations and public hearings with relevant 
agencies, 
entities and 
concerned 
athletes or coaches. 
However, 
no 
memorandum, order or issuance shall diminish the prescribed retirement 
benefits.
SECTION 9. Appropriations. —  The Chairman of the GAB shall 
immediately include in the Board's program the implementation of the benefits 
under this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
SECTION 10. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. —  The GAB, in 
consultation with the Senate, the House of Representatives and other 
concerned agencies, shall promulgate and issue the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act.
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. —  If any provision or part of this Act 
shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions, which are not affected 
thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. —  All laws, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
1
With the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly.
SECTION 13. Effectivity. —  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette and at least one newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,