Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

RECEIVED
= DATE _July 13, 2022

* TIME __4:57 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1954 _

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT

INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under the 1987 Constitution, the State is mandated to "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."

This bill seeks to promote sports development by institutionalizing

Philippine National Games, a comprehensive national grassroots sports
program that shall serve as the country's premier national sports competition
wherein various sports are included and fostered and local government units
are encouraged to promote sports and organize sports competitions from the
barangay level up to provincial level. The program shall also serve as the venue
for 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.

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


Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
RepresentativeVTingog Sinirangan

Rep. JUDE. ACIDRE
Represent&tive, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 1954

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL GAMES AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 National
Games Act."

Section 2. Declaration of Policies. Section 19 (1), Article XIV 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."

Pursuant thereto, it is incumbent upon the State to institutionalize a genuine
comprehensive national grassroots sports program which 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.


Section 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 sports program linking grassroots sports promotion
to elite sports development;

b. Toserveas the government's premier national sports competition to be held
once every two years;

c. To encourage alll 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 (LGUs); 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.

Section 4, Preparatory Sports Program. The Palarong Pambansa provided
for under Republic Act No. 10588, otherwise known as the "Palarong Pambansa Act
of 2013," and other local sports competitions organized by the LGUs or the private
sector, shall serve as "feeder" and preparatory sports program for the PNG.

Section 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.

Section 6. Membership of the Board. The Board shall have seven (7)
members composed of the following:


a. Executive Secretary — Chairperson;
. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) —
Vice Chairperson:

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Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) — Secretary General;
Secretary of the Department of Education - Member;
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education - Member; and,

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President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) — Member.

Section 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 for 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 to 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 to 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;

|. 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.

Section 8. PSC Chairman as the Secretary General and its Functions. The
Chairman of the PSC 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.

Section 9. oles 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, 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; and,

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 PNG;

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; and,

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.

Section 10. The Local Sports Councils (LSCs). 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.

Section 11. Participation Rules. To participate in the PNG, all athletes shall
be governed and must comply 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 in any regional or cluster qualifying competitions; and,
2. No athlete shall likewise be allowed to carry, represent, or promote any
public or private organization, enterprise, or sponsor in the PNG.

Section 12. Appropriations. \n order 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.

Section 13. /mplementing 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.

Section 14. Separability Clause. \f any part or provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force
and effect.

Section 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.

Section 16. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,