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Republic ofthe Philippines se.) © AUG 2016 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

Quezon City, Metro Manila a:
BY:
Seventeenth Congress +

First Regular Session REGISTRATION UNIT
O85 BILLS AND INDEX U
HOUSE BILL nores SE

Introduced by Representatives Pedro B, Acharon Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill secks to bestow additional benefits, incentives and gratuity pay to
world-class Filipino professional athletes who become world champions in theit respective fields
of sports at one time in their lives. +

These athletes risked lives and limbs in order to give honor and glory to our
motherland, Boxers in particular go to the rings unmindful of danger to themselves, but only
armed with the thought that what they are doing redounds not only to their benefits but to the
country as well, Inside the ring, however, anything could happen-boxer loses his sight even his
consciousness and ultimately his life, Hence, woe to the champion who become incapacitated or
even died without seeing any financial reward in case of incapacity or death

tige that boxing great Manny Paquiao, our very own compatriot from General
antos City and now our colleague in congress has bought to the country in the international
arena cannot be overemphasized, Undoubtedly, he had restored the Philippines in world boxing
he adulation and respect not only of his countrymen but of boxing aficionados the

The pr

map, earnin
world over

We not only excelled in boxing but in other sports as well, Lydia de Vega, Ema Muros-
Posadas, the bowling hall-of-famer Paeng Nepomuceno, Efren “bata” Reyes- are all world- or
regional- class champions themselves. The list is endless but our memories are short.

But champions are champions, They deserved someihing bétter‘that a mere pat in the
back or adulation of his countrymen, They ought to receive something tangible when all the
adiniring glances and shrieking sounds are gone.

The cases of former Filipino world boxing chanipions Rolando Navarette, Luisito
Espinosa and lately, Z. Gorres who become comatose after successfil fight are cases in point
Navarette is reduced to the life of a pauper-dependent on charitable gestures from his
countrymen for his existence and for his medical expenses. Luisito Espinosa is.forced to fight



mediocre fights just so he could survive in a far away land (the United States) Z. Gorres is lucky

that many generous persons contributed to shoulder some of his hospital bills, Alone and
abandoned, the left with nothing for themselves,

This bill therefore, seeks to grant monthly pension of Fifteen thousand pesos
(P15,000,00) to former world champions upon retirement or upon reaching the age of 65 or who
become incapacitatede in the course of their careers, Likewise, this bill seeks to provide for the
hospitalization and medical expenses od said athletes at not more than Two Hundred thousand
Pesos per hospitalization.

In view of the foregoing circumstances, approval of this bill is urgently requested.

PEDE



wee

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

955
HOUSE BILL NO. eeer J

Introduced by Representatives Pedro B, Acharon Jr.

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 2016”.

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 the country.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:

a, Board ~ shall refer to the Games and Amusement Boatd;
b. Filipino Athletes - shall refer to professional athletes who are citizens of the Philippines,
except those enjoying dual citizenship by virtue of R.A. No, 9225 otherwise known as

the ‘Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003";

cc. International Professional Sports Competitions - shall refer to international competitions

that confer world championship titles, in both individual or team events, ‘Which are duly



1 recognized and sanctioned by intemational sporting organizations and bodies duly

2 accredited by the Board;
3 d. International Sporting Organizations - shall .refer to international bodies that are
recognized, accredited, and have @ mutual working relationship, agreement, and/or
memorandum of understanding with the Board;

6 ©. Other Equally Prestigious World Championship ‘Games - shall refer to other
7 international professional, sports competitions that confer the same rank or stature as
8 world championship titles and recognized as such by the Board;

9 {. Primary Beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the legitimate spouse and
10 legitimate or illegitimate children;

Wh g. Professional Athlete - shall refer to any natural person who is paid a sum of money or
2 other equivalent compensation asa salary or prize roney for participating in a
13 game, bout, tournament or contest of professional sport, either 88 an individual
14 contestant or a member of a team, under a contract ehtered into with a
15 professional sports promoter/operator or team owner and licensed by the Board;

16 h. Professional Sports - shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contest, bouts,
7 tournaments or competitions whereby the participating athlete is paid sums of money or
18 other forms of compensation as regular salary or prize for parlcipation, which are
19 accredited and recognized by the Board,
20 i, Secondary beneficiaries: for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the parents, and in their
21 ‘absence, to the brothers or sisters of professional athletes.
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23 SEC. 4. Retirement Benefits. - Professional Filipino Athletes as defined under this Act,

24 who win in international professional sports competitions shall, upon reaching the age of fity (50),
25 receive the following retirement benefits:

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27 (a) For Individual Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at ieast Fifteen Thousand Pesos
28 — (Php15,000,00) for the individual winner;

29

30 (b) For Team Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at least Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,

31 000,00) for each team member; Provided, That for athletes who win in individual and team
32 events, the retirement benefits for individual events shall apply. “

33 i



17

Athletes who are actively employed al the time they reach the age of fifly (50) 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 or pursuant to existing company policies,

SEC. 5. Health Care Benefils, - . - Immediately upon winning in any international
professional sports competitions, Professional Filipino Athletes shall be covered by the Nationat
Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH), through
special program sponsored by the Board, which will provide the required local government
premium counterpart to be directly remitted to the PHILHEALTH. Upon reaching the age of fifty
(60), 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 fo a lump sum death benefit of Thirty thousand pesos
(Php30,000.00) to cover funeral servicesiexpenses: Provided, That, if there are no primary
beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to said benefits,

SEC. 7. Retroactive Effect. - The benefits provided under this Act shall retroact to all
living professional 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 Board in its Implementing Rules and Regulations; Provided, That, the winning professional
athlete was duly licensed by the Board at the time of the competition and the sports event
participated in was recognized and accredited by the Board


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SEC. 8. Adjustment of Retirement Benefits.- The Board is hereby authorized to adjust
the retirement benefits provided in Section 4 hereof, based on studies, consultations and
public hearings with relevant agencies and entities. However, no memorandum, order, or
issuance shalt diminish the prescribed retirement benefits provided herein,”

SEC. 9. Appropriations. The Chairman of the Board shall immediately include in the
Boara's program the implementation of the benefits under this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the

SEC, 10, Professional Filipino Athletes Welfare Development Trust Fund, - There shall be
an independent and separate trust fund established under this Act, to be administered: by the
Board. An amount not less than eighty percent (80%) for the fist five (6) years, acorued from the
licensing, registration and accreditation fees, fines and charges shall be used for the purpose of the
professionel Filipino athlete's welfare development trust fund. The fund shall be used for the
continued upgrading of facities NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND to conform with intemational standards, accreditation of and
other forms of assistance and support to the professional athlete's sector. ‘The trust fund may also
accept grants and donations from national and foreign entitles and individuals interested in the
professional athletes’ development.

SEC, 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The GAB, in consultation with the
Senale, the House of Representatives and other concemed’ agencies, shall promulgate and

issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days upon approval of this Act.
SEC 12. Reportorial Requirements ~ The Board shall submit an annual report of the
implementation of this Act to the relevant committees of both Houses of Congress.

SEC, 13. Separabilly Clause. - if any provision or part of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions, which are not affected thereby, shal,continue to be
in fll force and offect. a .

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. Allaws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


SEC. 15.

ctivity. - This Act shall take effect.fifteen (15) days

after its publication in a

newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,