Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF ATHLETES TO REPRESENT THE PHILIPPINES AS PART 
OF THE NATIONAL TEAM AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Worthy to cite in support of this legislation is the Mission Statement of the Philippine Sports 
Commission (PSC) which is “to serve as the prime catalyst and advocate for the propagation and 
development of Philippine sports by helping shape policies and setting priorities through the 
following – coordinating and implementing a national sports program, creating equitable 
opportunities for participation in sports by all sectors, providing assistance to stakeholders and 
partners, supporting the specially talented athletes for high-level competitions and promoting the 
development of those physical qualities and moral values which is the basis of sports.” These 
statements embolden this bill by granting our athletes the right to participate in international 
competitions through the support of a national program. 
Exposing our athletes to try out, train, and participate in global sports advances their self-esteem, 
morale, and comradeship with other competent individuals. Only through diverse experiences of 
healthy contests will an athlete garner resilience and eventually emerge victorious. 
The passage of this bill will instill and enable the Filipino youth in their formative years to foster 
their talents in sporting events to bring pride to our country. In essence, nationalism will be the 
widespread effect of giving our athletes their deserved privileges and opportunities to join 
international affairs. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 22, 2022
10:22 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF ATHLETES TO REPRESENT THE PHILIPPINES AS PART 
OF THE NATIONAL TEAM AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Athletes' Right to Represent the 
Philippines Act.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Section 17, Article II of the Constitution provides that the State 
shall give priority to sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and 
promote total human liberation and development.  
Further, Section 19 (1), Article XIV of the 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.” To this end, the State shall 
recognize, protect, and uphold the rights of athletes to represent the country in international 
sports competitions.  
Sec. 3. Coverage. – The right granted under this Act shall be enjoyed by all Filipino athletes, 
including those belonging to any athletic association, sports organization, or club, whether 
amateur, semi-professional, or professional.  
Sec. 4. Right to Participate in International Competitions. – It is the right of an eligible 
athlete to try out, train, and participate in international sports competitions and represent the 
country as part of the national team. 
Sec. 5. Duty of Employers/ Educational Institutions/ Athletic Associations/ Sports 
Organizations and Clubs. – It is the duty or responsibility of employers, educational 
institutions, athletic associations, sports organizations, and clubs, whether amateur, semi-
professional or professional, and their officials to allow an athlete to try out, train, or participate 
in international sports competitions: Provided, that such decision to represent the country as part 
of the national team is the athlete's own free will.  
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Sec. 6. Prohibited Acts. – Under the right granted under Section 4 of this Act, it shall be 
unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to perform the following acts that directly or 
indirectly, induce, threaten, or deny an athlete from participating in tryouts, training programs, 
or from representing the country in sports competitions: 
 
a) For an educational institution or school athletic association to: 
1. Refuse to release a student-athlete to the national team to try out, train, or 
participate in international sports competitions; 
2. Revoke or withhold the benefits of the scholarship of a student-athlete, without 
cause, which may include the non-payment of tuition and other miscellaneous fees 
covered by the scholarship granted and other monetary and non-monetary 
benefits; 
3. Give an incomplete grade in subjects which the student-athlete is exempted from 
by being a student-athlete; 
4. Mark the student-athlete as absent in class for the duration of the try-out, training, 
or competition: Provided, That the student-athlete must not exceed the number 
of excused absences allowed; 
5. Disallow a student-athlete to attend training, practices, and regular games; 
6. Suspend, without cause, a student-athlete from the varsity or school athletic 
association; 
7. Expel, without cause, a student-athlete from the educational institution or school 
athletic association; or 
8. Impose other forms of punishment. 
 
b) For national sports association (NSA), amateur sports organization, or club to: 
1. Refuse to release any of its athletes to the national team to try out, train, or 
participate in international sports competitions; 
2. Withhold, without cause, an athlete's allowances, including monetary and non-
monetary benefits; 
3. Disallow an athlete from attending training, practices, and regular games; 
4. Suspend, without cause, an athlete from membership in the NSA, sports 
organization, or club; 
5. Expel, without cause, an athlete from the NSA, sports organization, or club; or 
6. Impose other forms of punishment. 
 
c) For a professional sports organization, club, or employer to: 
1. Refuse to release any of its employee-athletes to the national team to try out, 
train, or participate in international sports competitions; 
2. Withhold, without cause, an employee athlete’s salary, allowances, and benefits; 
3. Disallow an employee-athlete from attending training, practices, and regular 
games; 
4. Suspend, without cause, an employee-athlete from membership in the professional 
organization or club; 
5. Deny an employee athletes application for a deserved promotion at work; 
6. Forcibly lay off an employee-athlete from work; or 


7. Impose other forms of punishment. 
 
Sec. 7. Prosecution of Offenses. – The commission of any of the acts prohibited under Section 
6 of this Act shall be prosecuted in the following manner: 
 
a) Who May File – For purposes of this Act, a complaint may be filed by an athlete, an 
athlete's parent or guardian, the concerned NSAs, or any person or any entity on behalf 
of an athlete who may be affected by the violation of this Act. 
 
b) Investigation – A written complaint for violations of this Act shall be filed with the following 
bodies: 
i. 
Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) – for violations committed about amateur 
sports and NSAs; 
ii. 
Games and Amusement Board (GAB) – for violations committed by professional 
sports organizations or clubs; 
iii. 
Department of Education (DepEd) or Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – 
for violations committed by educational institutions and school athletic 
associations; and 
iv. 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – for violations committed in the 
workplace. 
 
c) Relief – In case of an unfavorable decision, the complainant may, within fifteen (15) days 
upon receipt of the decision, file a motion for reconsideration with the same agency, 
otherwise, the decision shall be final. 
 
Nothing under this section shall prevent the complainant from filing a temporary 
restraining order or any other injunctive relief in court if there is no other plain, speedy, 
and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. 
 
Sec. 8. Penalties. – Upon notice and hearing, the PSC, DepEd, CHED, GAB, and DOLE, 
respectively, may impose a fine ranging from One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) to 
One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) depending on the gravity of the offense, and the suspension 
of the GAB license or permit, if applicable, for violations of this Act.  
 
Availing of remedies under this Act shall not preclude the complainant from seeking further 
recourse from the courts of law. 
 
Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The PSC, GAB, CHED, DepEd, and DOLE, in 
consultation with athletic associations, NSAs, and the Philippine Olympic Committee, shall issue 
the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.  
 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of 
instruction, administrative orders, rules, or regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.  


 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,