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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. NO. 
3377 
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Prepared by the Committees on Amateur Sports Competitiveness, and Finance with 
Senators Francis G. Escudero and Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CONDUCT OF THE PALARONG PAMBANSA AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Palarong Pambansa Act of 
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2012". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. 
- It is the policy of the State to promote physical 
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education and encourage sports programs, league competitions and amateur sports, 
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including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and 
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excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry through the institutionalization 
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of the Palarong Pambansa as the country's premier national sporting event. 
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Hence, it shall be a declared policy of the State to support programs that will improve 
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and promote the Palarong Pambansa as the primary avenue for providing in-school spOlis 
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opportunities to improve the physical, intellectual and social well-being of the youth. All 
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educational institutions are therefore directed to promote physical education and undertake 
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regular spOlis activities as well as support the local meets and the Palarong Pambansa. 
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SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are the following: 
(a) To institutionalize the Palarong Pambansa as the premier national sporting event 
of the conntry under the Department of Education (DepED) as a venue for talent 
identification, selection and recruitment of student athletes; 
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(b) To improve the DepED's national school sports program and give more prestige 
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to the annual sports event by encouraging better participation of schools through 
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incentives and rewards; and 
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(c) To encourage the local government units (LGUs) to take a proactive role in 
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the promotion of the Palarong Pambansa locally and nationally by providing 
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incentives and rewards. 
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ARTICLE II 
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ADMINISTRATION ANi> MANAGEMENT OF THE 
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I)ALARONG PAMBANSA 
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SEC. 4. Paiarong Pambansa Board. - A Palarong Pambansa Board, hereinafter referred 
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to as the "Board", is hereby created as the lead policy-making and coordinating body for 
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the preparation and conduct of the Palarong Pambansa. The Board shall be attached to the 
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DepED and shall be the proprietary owner of the phrase "Palarong Pambansa" and its 
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related symbols, logos and concept. 
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The members of the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual traveling and 
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other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the Palarong 
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Pambansa Board, subject to pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
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SEC. 5. Membership of the Board. - The Palarong Pambansa Board shall have eleven 
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(11) members composed of the following: 
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(a) Secretary of the Depmiment of Education (DepEd) - Chairperson 
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(b) Four (4) Undersecretaries of the DepEd 
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(c) Three (3) Assistant Secretaries of the DepEd 
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(d) Chail111an of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) 
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(e) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
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SEC. 6. Functions and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall perform the following 
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functions and duties: 
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(a) To formulate policies and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the Palarong 
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Pambansa and other related school-based sports activities leading to the Palarong 
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Pambansa; 
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(b) To review and update regularly the rules and regulations of the sports included in the 
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Palarong Pambansa in accordance with intemational standards; 
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(c) To develop and recommend programs and policies that will promote the Palarong 
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Pambansa and increase public awareness of the event, persuade schools to participate 
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and improve their performance in sports and physical education, and encourage the 
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LGUs to support and promote the Palarong Pambansa as the conntry's premier sports 
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event; 
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(d) To provide incentives and rewards to participating schools and LGUs, including medal 
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winners; 
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(e) To formulate and issue policies and guidelines on the accreditation of athletes, coaches 
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and chaperones; 
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(f) To create the Palarong Pambansa Communications Task Force; 
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(g) To create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC); 
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(h) To develop marketing strategies to generate funds and promote the Palarong Pambansa 
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including, but not limited to, royalties, merchandising and advertisements; 
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(i) To allocate funds for the conduct of school sports activities leading to the Palarong 
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Pambansa; 
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(j) To fonnulate and issue the criteria for the selection of host LGU and approve bids to 
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host the Palarong Pambansa; 
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(k) To set the date of the staging of the Palarong Pambansa; 
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(I) To identify the sports events to be included in the Palarong Pambansa; 
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(m) To appoint a Secretary General of the Palarong Pambul1Sa; 
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(n) To enter into contracts or obligations essential for the proper accomplishment of its 
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purposes and objectives; 
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(0) To conduct regular inventory of existing sports facilities, venues and equipment 
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throughout the country; 
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(p) To fonnulate guidelines for the conduct of spOlis events for students with disability; 
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(q) To assess the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa and submit an annual report to 
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Congress; and 
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(r) To exercise such other acts as may be necessary for the effective implementation of 
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this Act. 
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SEC. 7. Secretary General. - A Secretary General shall be appointed by the Board from 
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among the members of the Board representing the DepED. 
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The Secretary General shall recommend 10 the Board the composition of the Secretariat 
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and all the activities undertaken by the latter requiring the utilization of tilllds. The 
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Secretariat, which shall come from the existing personnel of the DepED, the PSC and the DILG, 
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shall manage the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa and other activities leading to the Palarong 
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Pambansa. 
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SEC. 8. Regional Athletics Associations. - The DepED Regional Offices shall organize 
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the Regional Athletics Associations (RAAs) which shall supervise the conduct of the regional 
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meets and organize their respective regional delegations to the Palarong Pambansa. 
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ARTICLE III 
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HOSTING OF THE PALARONG PAMBANSA 
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SEC. 9. Hosting of the Palarong Pambansa. - The hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 
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shall be detetmined by bidding and guided by the principle of rotation among the following 
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geographical clusters: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 
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Two (2) adjoining LOUs may host the Palarong Pambansa: Provided, that one of the 
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host LOUs does not have available venues and facilities to accommodate all the sports 
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events. 
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The host LOU may constitute a local Palarong Pambansa Board to coordinate the 
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preparation and conduct of the Palaro. 
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SEC. 10. Criteria for the Selection of the Palarong Pambonsa Host LGU, - The Board 
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shall formulate the criteria for the selection of the host LOU 
and shall take into 
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consideration the existing spOtis facilities, their capacity to accommodate participants and 
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guests, the security and peace and order situation of the area, and the need of the LOU for 
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an opportunity to promote and showcase its socio-economic and cultural uniqueness 
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through the Palarong Pambansa: Provided, That existing sports facilities shall be given the 
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highest weight among the criteria to be formulated. 
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ARTICLE IV 
PROMOTION OF THE PALARONG PAMBANSA 
SEC. 11. Incentives to Host LGU and Participating Schools. -
(a) Host LOU - The Board shall provide incentives to the winning LOUs to 
encourage them to patiicipate in the bidding for the hosting of the Palarong 
Pambansa. 
(b) Schools Whose Students are Participating in the Palarong Pambansa - The 
Board shall provide incentives to schools that will field students/athletes to 
represent their respective regions in the Palarong Patnbansa. Incentives shall 
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include, but not be limited to, financial support for additional scholarships and 
improvement of sports and physical education programs. 
SEC. 12. Promotion of the Palarong Palllbansa. - The Board shall create the Palarong 
Pambansa Communications Group which shall perform the following duties and 
responsibilities: 
(a) Formulate the marketing and communications plan to ensure the promotion of 
the Palarong Pambansa and encourage the LGUs to bid in the hosting of the 
event and the schools to improve their sports and physical education programs 
with the aim of sending representative athletes to the Palarong Pambansa; 
(b) Ensure the coverage of the Palarong Pambansa by both the national and local media; 
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(c) Enter into sponsorship, merchandising and royalty agreements with private entities as 
additional source of funds for the Palarong Pambansa. 
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The Palarong Pambansa Communications Group shall be composed of representatives 
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from the following government agencies: 
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(I) DepED; 
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(2) Philippine Information Agency (PIA); 
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(3) PSC; and 
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(4) DepED Regional Offices. 
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ARTICLE V 
ELIGIBILITY AND ACCREDITATION 
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SEC. 13. The Natiollal Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSA C). - The Board 
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shall constitute the NSAC that will evaluate and verify the authenticity of the documents 
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submitted by the athletes, coaches and chaperones applying for accreditation. The NSAC 
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shall accredit qualified athletes, coaches and chaperones and shall submit a masterlist to the 
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Board at least two (2) months before the Palarong Pambansa. 
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SEC. 14. Composition of the NSAC. - The NSAC shall be composed of the following: 
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(a) Representative from the DepED Legal Division; 
(b) Two (2) government physicians; 
(c) Two (2) government dentists; and 
(d) Authorized representative from each RAA. 
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SEC. 15. Protests on Eligibility and Appeals on Disqualification. - The Board shall 
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issue guidelines on the process of addressing protests and appeals on its decisions concerning the 
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eligibility or disqualification of athletes, coaches and chaperones: Provided, That all protests and 
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appeals must be resolved with finality within thitiy (30) days from receipt thereof. 
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ARTICLE VI 
SPORTS EVENTS AND STANDARDS 
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SEC. 16. Sports Events. - The official spotis events in the Palarong Pambansa shall include, but 
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not be limited to, the following: 
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Cal Elementarv Division 
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(I) Athletics 
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(2) Badminton 
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(3) Baseball 
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(4) Basketball 
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(5) Chess 
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(6) Football 
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(7) Gymnastics 
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(8) Sepak Takraw 
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(9) Softball 
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(10) Swimming 
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(II) Table Tennis 
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(12) Taekwondo 
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(13) Tennis 
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(14) VoIleybaIl 
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(15) Arnis 
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(hI Secondary Division 
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(I) Archery 
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(2) Arnis 
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(3) Athletics 
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(4) Badminton 
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(5) Baseball 
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(6) Basketball 
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(7) Billiards 
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(8) Boxing 
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(9) Chess 
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(10) Football 
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(II) Futsal 
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(12) Gymnastics 
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(13) Sepak Takraw 
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(14) Softball 
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(IS) Swimming 
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(16) Table Tennis 
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(17) Taekwondo 
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(18) Tennis 
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(19) Volleyball 
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(20) Wrestling 
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(21) Wushu 
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Provided, That appropriate sports events shall be organized for students with disability. 
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SEC. 17. Regulations and Standards. - The Board shall conduct a review of the current 
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rules and regulations and an inventory of existing sports facilities, venues and equipment being 
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used in the Palarong Pambansa. All sports events must be played according to international rules 
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and regulations and the sports venues, facilities and equipment to be used shall be in accordance 
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with international standards. The Board shall consult the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in 
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the review of the rules and regulations of each sports event. 
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ARTICLE VII 
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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
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SEC. 18 Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). - To ensure the success of the Palarong 
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Pambansa, the PSC, in cooperation with the POC and thru the appropriate NSAs, shall perform 
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the following duties and functions: 
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(a) The PSC shall make available its manpower and technical resources and facilities for 
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the Palarong Pambansa and other school-based sports and physical education 
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programs of the DepED; 
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(b) The PSC, in coordination with the DepED, shall fonnulate and implement a training 
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program for outstanding athletes of the Palarong Pambansa to ensure the continuity of 
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their athletic development and education; 
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(c) Provide technical support to all programs that the DepED may implement to train its 
teachers, coaches and officiating team; 
(d) Provide technical support in the formulation of the specification of equipment to be 
procured for the Palarong Pambansa; 
(e) Provide technical suppOli to all programs that the DepED may implement to train 
DepED and non-DepED personnel who will manage the events to be played in the 
Palarong Pambansa. The PSC may also endorse qualifIed non-DepED personnel to 
serve as event managers to assist in the conduct of the Palaro; and, 
(f) Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
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SEC. 19. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). - The DILG shall 
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perform the following duties and responsibilities: 
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(a) To direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a comprehensive 
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security plan for the LGU where the Palarong Pambansa shall be held; 
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(b) To appoint a representative to the local Palarong Pambansa Board; 
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(c) To direct all LGUs where the events will be played to coordinate, cooperate and 
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support the plans, programs and activities of the Palarong Pambansa Board; 
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(d) Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
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ARTICLE VIII 
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FINAL PROVISIONS 
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SEC. 20. Appropriations. - The amount currently appropriated in the General 
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Appropriations Act (GAA) for the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa including pre-national 
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Palaro activities under the DepED shall be allocated and utilized for the initial implementation of 
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this Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be 
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included under the budget ofthe DepED in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the 
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approval of this Act, the DepED, together with the concemed agencies, shall prepare and 
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promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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The IRR shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its· publication in a major daily newspaper 
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of general circulation. 
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SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
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and effect. 
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SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, particularly Executive 
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Order 433, presidential issuances and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof 
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which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 24. Effectivity. - The implementation of this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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