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Republic of the Philippines f. >” RECEIVED aN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES © one03 FEB 9 %\
Quezon City 7 O14
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BiLLNo.__ 3822

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to grant benefits for retirement, health care and death to
professional Filipino athletes who win world championship titles, either in
international professional sports competitions or in other prestigious international
championships.

The Philippines is blessed to have a long list of world champions in the
likes of Lydia de Vega, Elma Muros, Paeng Nepomuceno and boxing greats
Luisito Espinosa, Rolando Navarette, Manny Pacquiao and so on. Unfortunately,
not all of them live better lives after their respective reigns.

Despite the honor and glory they have brought to the country during their
heydays, it is sad to note that some of our finest athletes end up with nothing
upon retirement. After public adulations and exultations die down, they return to
obscurity and worse not having enough resources to fend for themselves and for
their families. These athletes surely deserve more than just a pat on the back for
the blood, sweat and tears they invested.

‘As an expression of collective gratitude, we find it appropriate to accord
our prized athletes with practical benefits to sail them through life once their
careers are over. The benefits enumerated in this bill might seem modest
compared to the sacrifices and hardships they go through just to be able to do us
proud. Nonetheless, it is a good jump off point in our efforts to look after the
welfare of our professional athletes. They have done their share. It is about time
we do ours.

This bill was passed in the 15" Congress but was vetoed by the President
on the grounds of funding constraints and provision on trust fund which was
contained in the Senate version. This version, however, does not have said
provision on trust fund. Further, | believe that we can always come up with an
acceptable compromise that is beneficial to all parties.

in view of the foregoing reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

G. DEL ROSARIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2
HOUSE BILL NO. 8822

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G, DEL ROSARIO

AN ACT
GRANTING RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE 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 of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the " Professional Filipino
Athletes Retirement, Health Care and Death Benefits Act of 2013”,

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy.- The State shall provide retirement, health care,
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 or team events, in
recognition of the glory and honor they bestowed to their country.

SEC. 3. Definition of 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 and other compensation as a salary or prize
money for participating in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional
sport, either as an individual contestant or member of a team under a contract
entered into with a professional sports promoter/operator or team owner and
licensed by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB);

(b) Professional Sports shall refer to individual or team sports, games,
contest, 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) Intemational Professional Sports Competitions shall refer to
international competitions that confer world championship titles in both individual
or 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.

(e) International Sporting Organizations shall refer to international bodies
that are recognized, accredited, and have a mutual working relationship,
agreement, and/or memorandum of understanding with the GAB

SEC. 4. 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 (Php15,000.00) for the individual winner;


(b) For Team Events — A lifetime monthly pension of at least Ten
Thousand Pesos (Php10,000.00) for each tearm 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
(80) and have availed of the 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,

SEC. 5. Health Care Benefits. — Immediately upon winning in any international
professional sports competitions, professional Filipino athletes shall be covered
by the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine 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 compliance with PCSO's existing rules and
guidelines: Provided, further, That any qualified beneficiary’shall have the option
to waive the benefits mentioned under this Section.

SEC. 6. Death Benefits. - Upon the death of a professional Filipino athlete, the
primary beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum death benefit of Thirty
thousand pesos (Php30,000.00) to cover funeral services/expenses: Provided,
That, if there are no primary beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be
entitled to said benefits.

For purposes of this Act, 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 professional
athletes.

SEC. 7. Retroactive Effect, - The benefits provided under this Act shall retroact
to all living professional Filipino athletes who, prior to the 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 athlete was
duly licensed by the GAB at the time of the competition and the sports event
participated in was recognized and accredited by the GAB.

SEC. 8. Adjustment of Retirement Benefits.- The adjustment in retirement
benefits provided in Section 4 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.

SEC. 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.


SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- 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 (0)
days upon approval of this Act.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 12, Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
ules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC, 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication ina newspaper of general circulation

Approved,