FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENt¥ss 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
One sport where Filipinos have shown a good chance of excelling' and attaining world 
prominence is in boxing. Many of our countrymen have made the nation proud by becoming 
world champions. Considering that it is a physically challenging sport, one that exposes them to 
physical injuries, there is a need to safeguard their health and safety. 
This bill seeks to establish and provide for the implementation of health and safety 
standards relating to the conduct of professional boxing matches.' 
, This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SEN1'W66 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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TO PROVIDE FOR HEALTH AND WORK SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL 
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BOXERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be cited as the "Professional Boxing Safety 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - One of the objectives of the State is to promote 
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health and safety standards particularly in the field of sports. Boxing, being a sport where a 
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player is susceptible to injury, requires government regulation and safety standards. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions of Terms. - For the purpose ofthis Act, the term: 
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(A) "Boxer" means a person who participates in a professional boxing match; 
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(B) "Licensee" means an individual who serves as trainer, second, or cut man for a 
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professional boxer; 
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(C) "Manager" means a person or business that helps arrange professional boxing 
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matches for a boxer, and that serves as an advisor or representative of a boxer in a 
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professional capacity; 
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(D) "Matchmaker" means a person or business that proposes, selects, and arranges the 
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boxers to participate in a professional boxing match; 
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(E) "Professional boxing" match means a boxing contest held between individuals for 
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compensation or a prize, except amateur boxing contests; 
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(F) "Promoter" means a person or business that organizes, holds, advertises, or otherwise 
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conducts a professional boxing match; and 
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(G) '~Games and Amusement Board" means a government agency that has the authority 
to regulate professional boxing. It shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Board." 
SECTION 4. Professional Boxing Matches. -
(A) In General. - A professional boxing match may be held only if-
(1) 
A licensed practicing physician, whose services are paid by the promoter, is 
continuously present at the ringside of the professional boxing match; 
(2) The promoter has, in accordance with this subsection, provided-
(a) For a physical examination of each boxer who participate III the 
professional boxing match by a licensed practicing physician, to 
ensure that each boxer is physically fit to compete in the boxing 
match; and 
(b) For an ambulance to be continuously present at the site of the boxing 
match; 
(3) The Board has established procedures to carry out Sections 5 through 8 of this 
Act. 
(B) Ambulance Service. -
(1) In General. - If the promoter for that boxing match does not choose to provide 
for such ambulance, the promoter shall, not later than 24 hours before that 
boxing match, notify the nearest available ambulance service, including any 
appropriate emergency medical service of that boxing match. 
(2) Costs. - The promoter for a professional boxing match shall pay the cost of any 
ambulance service provided in conjunction with the conduct of that boxing 
match. 
(3) Cancellation of Professional Boxing Matches. - If the Board issued a certificate 
with a private boxing organization, notwithstanding that certificate, the Board 
may cancel a professional boxing match without consulting the private 
organization if the Board or its appointed officials determines that-
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(a) The private professional boxing organization is not perfonning the 
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obligations of that organization that are specified in the contract in a 
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manner that is satisfactory to the chainnan of the Board; or 
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(b) The cancellation of the professional boxing match is necessary to protect 
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public health, safety, or welfare. 
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SECTION 5. Registration. -
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(A) Registration. - Each professional boxer shall register with the Board. 
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(B) Identification Card. -
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(1) Issuance. - The Board shall issue to each professional boxer who registers in 
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accordance with Paragraph (A), an identification card that contains-
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(a) A recent photograph of the boxer; and 
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(b) Each personal identification number assigned to the boxer by the 
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Board. 
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(2) Renewal. - Each professional boxer shall renew his or her identification card 
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every two (2) years. 
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(C) Relation to Government Rules and Regulations. - Nothing in this section shall be 
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construed as preventing the government from applying additional registration 
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requirements. 
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SECTION 6. Review. - The Board shall establish procedures-
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(A) To evaluate the professional records of each boxer participating in a boxing match; 
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(B) To ensure that no boxer is pennitted to box while under suspension as meted by the 
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Board due to injury or other medical reasons, including-
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(1) A recent knockout, injury, or requirement for a medical procedure; 
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(2) Failure of a drug test; 
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(3) Poor boxing skills, or the inability to safely compete; or 
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(4) The use of false aliases, or falsifying, or attempting to falsify, official 
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identification cards or documents. 
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SECTION 7, Insurance, - The Board, in carrying out the regulation of professional 
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boxing matches, shall require that a promoter provide insurance coverage, in an amount 
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detennined by the appropriate government office, for each boxer who participates in a 
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professional boxing match that the promoter involved is conducting, to cover an injury sustained 
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while engaged in that match, 
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SECTION 8, Reporting. -
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(A) Boxing Match Results, - Not later than 48 business hours (excluding Saturdays and 
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Sundays) after the conclusion of a professional boxing match, the results of such 
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boxing match shall be reported to the Board, 
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(B) Suspension. - Not later than forty eight (48) business hours (excluding Saturdays and 
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Sundays) after the Board orders the suspension of a boxer, promoter, or manager, 
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such suspension shall be reported to professional boxing associations and other 
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associations involved in professional boxing in the Philippines, 
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SECTION 9, Enforcement. 
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(A) Injunctions. - Whenever the Chainnan of the Board has reasonable cause to believe 
that a person or entity is engaged in a violation of this Act, the Chainnan or its 
representative may bring a civil action in the appropriate court requesting such 
relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other 
order, against the person or entity, as the Chainnan determines to be necessary to 
restrain the person or entity from continuing to engage 111, or to sanction, a 
professional boxing match in violation of this Act. 
(B) 
Criminal Penalties. -
(1) Managers, Promoters, Matchmakers and Licensees. - Each manager, promoter, 
matchmaker, or licensee who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of 
this Act shall, upon conviction, be imposed the penalty of imprisonment for not 
more than one (1) year or a fine of not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(PlOO,OOO.OO), or both. 
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(2) Boxers. - Any professional boxer who knowingly and willfully violates any 
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provision of this Act shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than Five 
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Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00). 
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SECTION 10. Consultation. - Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of 
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this Act, and annually thereafter, to exchange information concerning the implementation and 
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enforcement of this Act and to improve the safety and integrity of professional boxing as a sport, 
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the Board shall consult with-
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(A) The appropriate officials of the government; and 
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(B) Private organizations that assist in the regulation of professional boxing matches. 
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SECTION 11. Pension Study. -
The Secretary of Labor shall conduct a study on the 
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feasibility and cost of a national pension system for professional boxers, including potential 
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funding sources. 
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Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor 
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shall submit a report to the Congress on the findings of the study conducted pursuant to this 
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Section. 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
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and subsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its 
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publication in :11 least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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