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  
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE BOXING AND COMBAT SPORTS COMMISSION AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines has a deep-rooted love for combat sports, and the nation has produced some of 
the best martial arts talent in the world. The country’s recent performance in the 2020 Tokyo 
Summer Olympics is truly a testament to the potential of professional boxing and combat sports 
in the Philippines. The country’s national boxing team returned as the most bemedaled team in 
Tokyo Olympics with Nesthy Petecio winning the women's featherweight silver medal (making 
her the first Filipina Olympic boxing medalist), Carlo Paalam taking home the men's flyweight 
Olympic silver medal and Eumir Marcial bagging an Olympic bronze in the men's middleweight 
class. Before this latest stint, many of the country’s Olympic medals were earned by our world-
class Filipino boxers.  
Considering the potential of the field, it is only apt that the State support its growth by formulating 
and implementing a national policy for the development and growth of professional boxing and 
combat sports in the country. This measure seeks to strengthen the professional boxing and 
combat sports industry through the creation of the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports 
Commission which shall encourage the discovery, training, and development of world-class 
professional boxers and combatants, and ultimately protect and enhance their welfare. This 
measure also seeks to promote and make the country an international/regional center for 
professional boxing and combat sports competition, training, convention, and tourism.  
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
4877


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  
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE BOXING AND COMBAT SPORTS COMMISSION AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports 
Commission Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote sports to foster 
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, promote human development, and 
contribute to economic growth and development.  
The State shall provide focus on, and develop excellence in, professional boxing and combat 
sports and ensure the development and safety of Filipino professional boxers and combatants. 
It shall also support the growth of the professional boxing and combat sports industry and shall 
promote the country as an international/regional center for professional boxing and combat sports 
competition, training, convention, and tourism. 
It shall also harness the participation, dedication, and technical expertise of stakeholders of the 
professional boxing and combat sports industry.  
Towards these ends, the State shall establish a commission that will formulate and implement a 
national policy for the development and growth of professional boxing and combat sports.  
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined 
as follows: 
(a) Combat sports refer to any of the following or a combination of any of the following:
(1) Boxing or fist fighting in any of its styles;
(2) Kickboxing in any of its styles; and
(3) Any sport, martial art, or activity that involves, by the applicable regulation,
striking, kicking, hitting, grappling, throwing, and/or punching opponents.
4877


 
(b) Commission refers to the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission, created under 
Section 4 of this Act; 
 
(c) License refers to a document, issued by the Commission, authorizing a person or entity 
to perform duties connected with professional boxing and combat sports; 
 
(d) Manager refers to a person who acts as an agent or representative of a professional boxer 
or combatant, and receives compensation for such acts; 
 
(e) Permit refers to a document, issued by the Commission, authorizing a person or entity to 
hold, promote or engage in the conduct or operation of a professional boxing or combat 
sports match; 
 
(f) Professional boxer refers to a boxer who is issued a license by the Commission to fight in 
a professional boxing match for a sum of money or other compensation, such as a salary 
or prize money;  
 
(g) Professional boxing match refers to a boxing match between professional boxers who shall 
receive money or other compensation for fighting in the said match, but shall not refer to 
a boxing contest that is organized by an amateur sports organization;  
 
(h) Professional combatant refers to a person who is issued a license by the Commission to 
fight in a professional combat sports match for a sum of money or other compensation, 
such as a salary or prize;  
 
(i) Professional combat sports match refers to a sports match between professional 
combatants who shall receive money or other compensation for fighting in the said match; 
and  
 
(j) Promoter refers to a person, group of persons, or an entity, licensed as such by the 
Commission and primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing a 
professional boxing or combat sports match. The term "promoter" does not include a 
hotel, casino, resort, or other commercial establishment hosting or sponsoring 
professional boxing or combat sports match unless' - (i) the hotel, casino, resort, or other 
commercial establishment is primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and 
producing the match; or (ii) there is no person, group of persons, or any other entity, who 
is primarily responsible for organizing, promoting, and producing the match. 
 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission. – To carry 
out the above-declared policies, the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission is hereby 
created. The Commission shall be directly under the administrative supervision of the Office of 
the President. 
 
SEC. 5. Objectives. – The Commission shall have the following objectives: 
(a) Support the continued growth of professional boxing and combat sports in the country; 
(b) Encourage the discovery, training, and development of world-class professional boxers 
and combatants; 


(c) Protect and enhance the welfare of professional boxers and combatants; and  
(d) In collaboration with the private sector, national government agencies, and local 
government units (LGUs), promote and make the country an international/regional center 
for professional boxing and combat sports competition, training, convention, and tourism  
 
SEC. 6. Composition. – The Commission shall be composed of five (5) members, as follows: 
(a) A nationally-recognized advocate for the development and growth of professional boxing 
and combat sports in the country, as Chairperson; 
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) or his/her representative, Member; 
(c) The Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) or his/her representative, Member; 
(d) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or his/her 
representative, Member; and 
(e) A representative of the professional boxing and combat sports industry, Member. 
 
The representatives of the Secretaries of the DOH, DOT, and DILG shall have a rank not lower 
than a Bureau Director and must have the knowledge, experience, or involvement in: sports 
medicine and/or health emergency management, tourism planning, or convention management, 
and boxing and combat sports development, respectively. The DILG Secretary may opt to 
designate the president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Cities of the 
Philippines, or the League of Municipalities of the Philippines as his duly authorized representative 
to the Commission, instead of an official of the Department.  
 
The Chairperson and the representative of the professional boxing and combat sports industry 
shall be selected and appointed by the President of the Philippines from nominees submitted by 
the professional boxing and combat sports industry.  
 
SEC. 7. Term of Office. – The Chairperson and the representative of the professional boxing 
and combat sports industry shall have a term of six (6) years and may be reappointed by the 
President of the Philippines. Any appointment to a vacancy in the position of the Chairperson or 
the representative of the professional boxing and combat sports industry that occurs before the 
expiration of the term shall be for the unexpired portion of the term only.  
 
The Chairperson and the industry representative may be suspended or removed by the President 
of the Philippines for just cause as provided by law.  
 
SEC. 8. Meetings and Quorum. – The Commission shall meet regularly once a month or as 
often as the exigencies of the service may demand, upon the call of the Chairperson or the 
request of at least two (2) members of the Commission. The vote of a majority of the entire 
membership of the Commission shall be necessary for the adoption of any rule, resolution, or 
decision. 
 
SEC. 9. Allowances and Per Diems. – The Chairperson and Members of the Commission shall 
be entitled to per diems, allowances, and other reimbursable expenses as prescribed by the 
Department of Budget and Management (DBM).  
 
SEC. 10. Powers and Duties of the Commission. – The Commission shall have the following 
powers and duties: 
 


(a) Formulate, initiate, plan, and implement a national policy for the growth of professional 
boxing and combat sports, and the discovery, training, and development of professional 
boxers and combatants; 
 
(b) Formulate, promulgate, review, and update the rules and procedures to regulate 
professional boxing and combat sports, in conformity with international standards; 
 
(c) Establish rules, set requirements, and collect fees for the grant or renewal of a license to 
a professional boxer, combatant, coach, trainer, promoter, judge, referee, and other ring 
officials and personnel, and the issuance of a permit for a professional boxing or combat 
sports match; 
 
(d) For violation of any rule or requirement, including the conditions for the issuance of a 
license or permit, impose administrative fines and penalties, including the suspension or 
revocation of a license or permit; 
 
(e) Act as a quasi-judicial body and, on its motion or upon complaint of any interested party, 
initiate, hear, and decide any investigation for any violation of its rules and regulations 
and, in connection therewith, issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum 
 
(f) Determine and set safety standards, including the presence and availability of emergency 
medical personnel and services, in all professional boxing and combat sports matches in 
the country; 
 
(g) Establish a system of registration and licensing of boxers, combatants, referees, trainers, 
seconds, cut man, and other ring officials and personnel; 
 
(h) Maintain an integrated registry of professional boxers, combatants, coaches, trainers, 
judges, referees, promoters, and other ring officials and personnel; 
 
(i) Seek or request the assistance and support of any government agency, office, or 
instrumentality, including government-owned or controlled corporations, LGUs as well as 
nongovernmental organizations or institutions in pursuit of its policies and programs; 
 
(j) Establish a consultative mechanism, which shall provide a forum for continuing dialogue 
between and among all stakeholders, in the implementation of all laws, policies, programs, 
and projects relating to professional boxing and combat sports; 
 
(k) Establish and maintain linkages with international boxing and combat sports organizations 
or institutions and counterpart agencies of foreign governments, including the hosting of 
international conventions and conferences, for the enhancement of standards and 
regulations on the conduct of professional boxing and combat sports matches, on facilities 
and equipment used therein, and the participation of professional boxers and combatants, 
particularly of Filipino professional boxers and combatants in international events; 
 
(l) Allocate resources for the implementation of national policies and programs related to 
professional boxers and combatants; 
 


(m) Submit an annual report on the implementation of this Act to the President and Congress; 
and 
 
(n) Perform such other powers and functions as may be necessary to effectively and efficiently 
carry out the provisions of this Act.  
 
SEC. 11. Organizational Structure. – Subject to the approval of the DBM, the Commission 
shall determine its organizational structure and staffing pattern, create offices, divisions, or units 
as it may deem necessary, and appoint its officers and employees by civil service laws, rules and 
regulations. The remuneration structure for the positions in the staffing pattern shall strictly 
conform to Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the "Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989", as amended.  
 
SEC. 12. Executive Director. – The Commission shall have a full-time Executive Director who 
shall be responsible for implementing the policies, rules, regulations, and directives of the 
Commission; the management of the Commission's daily operations; and for coordinating and 
supervising the activities of the different offices, divisions, and units of the Commission.  
 
The Executive Director shall have a term of six (6) years and may be reappointed. He shall be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the nomination of the Commission.  
 
The nominee to the Executive Director position must be of known probity and integrity and shall 
have nationally recognized experience and comprehensive knowledge in professional boxing and 
combat sports, and preferably has relevant experience in the management of a government 
regulatory agency, policy formulation, adjudication, and program and project delivery and 
management. 
 
SEC. 13. Physical, Medical and Neurologic Examination Requirements. – No person or 
entity can arrange, promote, organize, or produce a professional boxing and combat sports match 
without physical, medical, neurologic, and other diagnostic examinations being conducted on 
each participating professional boxer or combatant by a licensed physician, who is recognized by 
the Commission. The recognized licensed physician shall likewise certify that the professional 
boxer or combatant is physically fit to safely compete, in compliance with the requirements of the 
Commission.  
 
SEC. 14. Mandatory Rest Period. – There shall be an interval in which professional boxers 
and combatants can compete in boxing contests and combat sports matches, which shall be 
referred to as a mandatory rest period. The duration of the mandatory rest period shall be 
determined by the Commission.  
 
SEC. 15. Emergency Medical Services. – A professional boxing and combat sports match may 
be held only if:  
 
(a) A licensed practicing physician, whose services are paid by the promoter and duly 
registered with the Commission, is continuously present at the ringside of the professional 
boxing and combat sports match;  


(b) Ambulance services, with appropriate equipment and competent personnel, shall be made 
available within the immediate vicinity of the ring by DOH-accredited ambulance service 
providers; and  
(c) A tertiary hospital is near the vicinity of the event. 
 
The absence of any of the aforementioned requirements shall be a cause for the non-issuance or 
the immediate cancellation of the permit to hold. the professional boxing and combat sports 
match.  
 
SEC. 16. Social Pension and Health Care Benefits. – All professional boxers and combatants 
shall be enrolled with the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
(PhilHealth), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or PAG-IBIG, and shall be entitled 
to all the benefits by the pertinent provisions of law. The enrollment of professional boxers and 
combatants with, and the remittance of mandatory contributions to, these government agencies 
shall be done by the manager of the professional boxer or combatant: Provided, That in case the 
professional boxer or combatant is not represented by a manager, it is the professional boxer or 
combatant who shall register and remit his or her mandatory contributions. 
 
The SSS shall develop and administer a separate social security program for professional boxers 
and combatants. This program, subject to actuarial studies, may have different contributions, 
pensions, and other benefit schemes. 
 
SEC. 17. Exemption from Travel Taxes and Fees. – A three-man professional boxing or 
combat sports delegation, composed of the professional boxer or combatant, the promoter or 
manager, and the trainer, to any international competition shall be exempt from the payment of 
travel tax, airport tax, and· any other travel-related taxes or fees now or hereafter imposed by 
law or regulation. 
 
SEC. 18. Alternative Livelihood Programs for Retired and/or injured Professional 
Boxers and Combatants. – The Commission, in coordination with various stakeholders in the 
professional boxing and combat sports industry, with the assistance of other government agencies 
and LGUs, shall establish or spearhead an alternative livelihood training program for retired and/or 
injured professional boxers and combatants. 
 
SEC. 19. Compensation of Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Officials. – All 
professional boxing and combat sports officials involved in any match shall not receive funds or 
compensation in any form, directly or indirectly, from the promoter or its agents. Such funds or 
compensation shall be coursed through and collected by the Commission for appropriate 
disbursement. 
 
SEC. 20. Professional Boxers and Combatants Welfare Development Trust Fund. – A 
Professional Boxers and Combatants Welfare Development Trust Fund is hereby established to 
complement the budget for welfare benefits and enhance and uplift the social and economic 
opportunities and conditions of present and former professional boxers and combatants, 
including, but not limited to, medical and health services; housing and livelihood assistance; and 
financial assistance for education and capability building/training. The Commission shall set the 
qualifications and requirements for the disbursement of the Trust Fund.  
 


It shall be administered by the Commission as a special account in any government bank. It shall 
be funded from administrative fines imposed by the Commission, and contributions in the form 
of endowments, grants, and donations to the Trust Fund, which shall be exempted from the 
donor and other taxes, charges, or fees imposed by the government: Provided, That in cases of 
donations from foreign governments or other foreign institutions, acceptance thereof shall be 
subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary 
of Foreign Affairs.  
 
SEC. 21. Transitory Provisions. – Upon the organization of the Commission, the Boxing and 
Contact Sports Division of the GAB shall be abolished: Provided, That its powers and functions 
shall be absorbed by the Commission: Provided, further, That the officers and employees thereof 
shall continue in a holdover capacity until the new officers and employees of the Commission 
shall have been duly appointed under the provisions of this Act. All qualified regular or permanent 
employees who may be transferred to the Commission shall not suffer any loss in seniority or 
rank or decrease in emoluments. Any employee who cannot be absorbed by the Commission shall 
be entitled to separation pay under existing retirement laws.  
 
All other functions, appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, and other assets of the 
GAB that are about the development and regulation of professional boxing and combat sports 
shall be transferred to the Commission.  
 
SEC. 22. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to fund the implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the start of 
the effectivity of this Act, the Commission shall, upon consultation with national government 
agencies, LGUs, and the different stakeholders in the professional boxing and combat sports 
industry, promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.  
 
SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, 
rules or regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC. 25. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SEC. 26. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or any two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,