EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH E ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 1152
feciuirc
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RECEIVED Be
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
PROVIDING INSURANCE COVERAGE TO 
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO ARE COMPETING 
IN ANY INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITION 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 w orld 
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 Am it in 
Billiards; and Eugene Torre in Chess.
This bill aims to recognize the honor, glory and pride the Filipino athletes w ho 
will be com peting in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games which will begin on 
November 30, 2019, and to assure them  that their efforts will never be forgotten.
This bill further seeks to provide insurance benefits to all professional Filipino 
athletes who are com peting in any international professional sports com petition or in 
other equally prestigious world championship games, who gives honor, glory and pride 
to the Philippines, in both individual and team events.


In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH E ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 
1152
of t|jf m r r fta r ?
T f  
NOV- 6  
WO :13
RECEJV'IOB^..
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
PROVIDING INSURANCE COVERAGE TO 
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO ARE COMPETING 
IN ANY INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITION OR 
IN OTHER EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 
GAMES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted b y the Senate and House o f  Representatives o f the Philippines 
in Congress be assembled:
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SECTION 1. Tide. — This Act shall be known as the "Professional Filipino 
Athletes Insurance Benefits Act."
SECTION 2. Declaration o f Policy. —  The State shall provide insurance 
benefits to professional Filipino athletes who are competing in any international 
professional sports com petition or in other equally prestigious world championship 
games, in both individual and team events, in recognition o f the glory and honor they 
bestowed to the Philippines.
SECTION 3. D efinition o f Terms. 
following term s shall be defined as follows:
For purposes o f this Act, the
a. Professional Filipino athletes shall refer to athletes who are Filipino citizens 
and paid a sum o f money or other compensation as a salary or prize money 
for participating in a game, bout, tournam ent, or contest of professional


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sport, either as an individual contestant or as a member o f a team under a 
contract entered into with a professional sports prom oter/operator or team  
owner and licensed by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB);
b. Professional sports sh^W refer to individual or team sports, games, contests, 
bouts, tournam ents or com petitions whereby the participating athlete is 
paid sums of money and other form s o f compensation as regular salary or 
prize fo r participation, which are accredited and recognized by the GAB;
c. International professional sports com petitions 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. O ther equally prestigious w orld championship gam es shall refer to other 
international professional sports com petitions that confer the same rank or 
stature as world championship titles and recognized as such by the GAB.
SECTION 4. Coverage. —  The benefits under this Act shall apply to all 
professional 
Filipino 
athletes who 
are 
com peting 
in 
any 
international 
professional 
sports 
com petition 
or 
in 
other 
equally 
prestigious 
world 
championship games, in both individual and team events.
SECTION 5. Insurance Benefits. - All professional Filipino athletes who are 
com peting in any international professional sports com petition or in other 
equally prestigious world championship games, in both individual and team 
events, shall be given free insurance coverage that shall cover medical 
expenses, travel insurance, death benefits, among others.


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SECTION 6. A ppropriations.— The Games and Amusement Board (GAB) 
and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) shall immediately include in the 
the ir programSjthe im plem entation of the benefits under this Act, the funding 
o f which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 7. Im piem enting Ruies and Regulations. —  The GAB and PSC, 
in consultation w ith the Senate, the House of Representatives, and other 
concerned agencies, shall prom ulgate and issue the Im plem enting Rules and 
Regulations w ithin ninety (90) days upon approval o f this Act.
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. —  I f  any provision or part o f 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 9. 
Repealing Clause. —  All laws, presidential decrees, 
executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent 
w ith the provisions o f this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly.
SECTION 10. Effectivity. —  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette and at least one newspaper o f general 
circulation.
Approved,