Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIV Section 19, Paragraph 1 of the 1987 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.” 
Consistent with this constitutional provision, this proposed measure seeks to provide a structure 
for a truly integrated and comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports 
promotion to elite sports development and encouraging all local government officials to promote 
the development of sports in the countryside covering all barangays, towns, municipalities, cities, 
and provinces. This bill shall likewise encourage and assist various National Sports Associations 
in promoting their respective sports at the grassroots level providing the necessary linkages with 
local government units. 
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. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 15, 2022
11:06 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. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the ''Philippine National Games Act" 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. – Article IV, Section 19 (1) of the 1987 Constitution provides 
that the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league 
competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international sports competitions, to 
foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert 
citizenry. 
Pursuant thereto, it is incumbent upon the State to institutionalize a genuine comprehensive 
national grassroots sports program that serves as the country's premier national sports 
competition and venue for the nationwide talent search for identifying and developing outstanding 
athletes who have the potential to excel in various sports and place the country at the forefront 
of international sports competitions.  
SEC. 3. Objectives. – The objectives of the Philippine National Games (PNG) are as follows: 
a) To provide a framework and structure for a truly integrated and comprehensive national
spurts program linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports development;
b) To serve as the government's premier national sports competition to be held once every
two years;
c) To encourage all local government officials to promote the development of sports in the
countryside covering all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays,
d) To serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations in promoting their respective
sports at the grassroots level providing the necessary linkages with local government
units; and
e) To widen the base for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of athletes that
shall constitute the national pool to be trained for international sports competitions.
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SEC. 4. Preparatory Sports Program. – The Palarong Pambansa provided for under Republic 
Act Number 10588, and other local sports competitions organized by the local government units 
or the private sector, shall serve as a "feeder" and preparatory sports program for the PNG. 
SEC. 5. Establishment of the Philippine National Games Board. – A Philippine National 
Games Board hereinafter referred to as the "Board", is hereby created as the lead policy-making 
and coordinating body for the preparation and conduct of the PNG. 
The members of the Board shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual traveling and other 
expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members thereof, subject to 
pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC. 6. Membership of the Board. – The Board shall have seven (7) members composed of 
the following: 
a) Executive Secretary – Chairperson
b) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Vice Chairperson
c) Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission – Secretary General
d) Secretary of the Department of Education – Member
e) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education – Member
f)
President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) – Member
SEC. 7. Functions and Duties of the Board. – The Board shall perform the following functions 
and duties: 
a) To formulate policies and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the PNG, and the
relationships among the organizations involved;
b) To form an Executive Committee which shall be headed by a Secretary General in charge
of the day-to-day operations of the PNG;
c) To recognize the Local Sports Councils to be given authority to enter athletes and teams
in the PNG;
d) To determine the venue and schedule of the PNG;
e) To determine the sports be included which shall be aligned with the sports participated
by the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Olympics, and other
mandatory international sports events;
f)
To establish an advisory council composed of public or private individuals, organizations,
or entities necessary for the success of the PNG;
g) To create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee;
h) To determine the regional or cluster qualifying competitions, including the qualifying
standards, consistent with the rules of the respective NSAs;
i)
To develop and recommend programs and policies that will promote the PNG and ensure
the LGUs support the PNG as the country's premier sports event;
j)
To establish a mediation body, including its rules and procedures, to resolve disputes
related to the conduct of the PNG;
k) To provide incentives and rewards to host LGU and winning LSCs;
l)
To enter into contracts or obligations essential for the accomplishment of its purposes and
objectives;


m) To assess the conduct of the PNG and submit an annual report to Congress; and 
n) To exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 
SEC. 8. Secretary General. – The Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission shall serve as 
the Secretary General of the PNG. 
 
The Secretary-General shall recommend to the Board the composition of the PNG Secretariat and 
all the activities undertaken by the latter, including the utilization of funds for the preparations, 
organization, and conduct of the PNG. The Secretariat, which shall come from the existing 
personnel of the PSC, the DILG, and the POC shall directly manage the conduct of the PNG.  
 
SEC 9. Roles of Concerned Agencies. – The following government agencies, instrumentalities, 
and entities shall be tasked to perform the following roles and responsibilities: 
 
1) Philippine Sports Commission. 
a) To carry out overall management, coordination, and implementation of the PNG; 
b) To provide manpower, technical resources, and sports facilities; and 
c) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
 
2) Department of the Interior and Local Government. 
a) To mandate all LGUs to coordinate, cooperate and support the plans, and programs. 
and activities of the PNG; 
b) To direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a comprehensive 
security plan for the LGU venues where the PNG shall be held; 
c) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
 
3) Department of Education. 
a) To align the Palarong Pambansa calendar of activities, programs, and policies to the 
conduct of the PNG; 
b) To allow the use of school buildings and classrooms as billeting centers; 
c) To allow DepEd teachers, who are licensed or accredited technical officials of the 
national sports associations, to officiate in the games; and 
d) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
 
4) Commission on Higher Education. 
a) To promote the program and activities of the PNG to all higher educational institutions; 
b) To recommend to the state universities and colleges the use of their school buildings 
and classrooms as billeting centers; 
c) To issue memorandum orders on the alignment of tertiary sports events and calendar 
of activities to the PNG; and; 
d) To perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
 
5) Local Government Units. 


a) To organize within their jurisdiction a multi-sectoral group to serve as their Local 
Sports Council (LSC) which shall have the authority to accredit and allow athletes to 
participate in the Games; 
b) To recruit, train, select and develop athletes who will compete in the PNG, and 
organize local competitions within their respective jurisdictions; and 
c) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
 
6) Philippine Olympic Committee. 
 
a) To supervise all participating National Sports Associations involved in the PNG; and 
b) To perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board. 
 
7) National Sports Associations. 
 
a) To set the qualifications for athletes participating in different events based on their 
international federations' rules and regulations; 
b) To provide technical assistance in the conduct of their respective sports competitions 
in the PNG, including the appointment of qualified officiating officials; 
c) To conduct regional or cluster qualifying competitions, as may be required by any 
sports association, in coordination with the PSC and the host LSC; 
d) To allow the participation of all athletes, including national athletes, entered by the 
LSCs regardless of their membership status with their respective NSAs: Provided, That: 
i. 
The athlete conforms and agrees to abide by the competition rules and 
regulations of the NSA; and 
ii. 
The athlete is not under any sanction by the concerned National Sports 
Association or International Federation. 
SEC. 10. The Local Sports Councils (LSC). – The LSCs organized by their respective LGUs 
shall be headed by the provincial governor or the city mayor. For purposes of this Act, the LSC 
shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
 
a) To encourage, promote and organize local sports competitions within their respective 
jurisdictions; 
b) To recruit, train, and select athletes for participation in the PNG; 
c) To develop and maintain a pool of local athletes and provide them with the necessary 
assistance; 
d) To enter athletes in the PNG and its corresponding regional and cluster qualifying 
competitions; 
e) To be responsible for the entire delegation entered into the PNG, and ensure the 
compliance of their athletes with the eligibility rules of the PNG; 
f) To enter an athlete in any sports event subject to PNG rules, provided said athlete is not 
under any sanction by the concerned National Sports Association or International 
Federation; 
g) To give athletes the authority to represent their respective LSC in the PNG and 
corresponding regional and cluster qualifying competitions; and 
h) To carry only the name of the LSC that it represents; 


SEC. 11. Participation Rules. – To participate in the PNG, all athletes shall be governed and 
must comply with the following rules: 
 
a) Eligibility 
1) All Filipinos by birth, including those residing outside of the Philippines but are of 
Filipino ancestry, shall be eligible to participate in the PNG; 
2) The qualifying age for different events shall be determined by the NSAs based on their 
international federations' rules and regulations; and 
3) Compliance with other eligibility rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the 
PNG, LSC, and concerned NSA. 
 
b) Representation 
1) Athletes shall, at all times, represent only the LSC that entered its name in the PNG or 
any regional or cluster qualifying competitions; 
2) No athlete shall likewise be allowed to carry, represent or promote any public or private 
organization, enterprise, or sponsor in the PNG. 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. – To provide the necessary funds required for the proper 
implementation of this program, the following funding shall be made available: 
 
a) For the preparations, organization, and operations of the biennial PNG, including the 
organization of the different regional and cluster qualifying competitions, the amount of 
One Hundred Eighty million pesos (Php 180,000,000.00) annually shall be appropriated 
by the National Treasury, and will form part of the General Appropriations Fund of the 
PSC. This Fund shall include the cost of staging the PNG, particularly the expenses 
covering the operations of the sports competitions, including the expenses for competition 
officials and personnel, meal allowances, logistics for the accommodation of all 
participating athletes and team officials, purchase of necessary competition equipment, 
rental of venues for competition, opening ceremonies, incentives and rewards for athletes 
and LSCs; and 
b) For the preparation, training, and participation of the athletes in the PNG, the LGUs shall 
be authorized to appropriate at least one percent (1%) of their annual "Internal Revenue 
Allotment" (IRA) and if the need arises charge the amounts necessary to their "Special 
Activity Fund" or their "Special Education Fund" as may be allowed by existing laws. For 
this purpose, all LGUs shall also be allocated annually an additional IRA equivalent to one 
percent (1%) thereof. 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The PSC, in coordination with the DILG, 
DepEd, CHED, POC, and NSAs, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.  
 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, rules, and 
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, 
modified, or repealed accordingly.  


SEC. 16. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,