SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E  
S No. J J K M 'i
t^ificr at tiff i^mriar^
*17 JAN 24 P5'46
RECtiVLU BY;
Prepared by the Committee on Sports, the Committee on Health and 
Demography and the Committee on Finance with Senators Pacquiao, Trillanes 
IV and Ejercito as authors thereof
AN ACT
CREATING 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
BOXING 
COMMISSION 
TO 
STRENGTHEN THE BOXING INDUSTRY AND PROMOTE THE 
SAFETY 
AND 
WELFARE 
OF 
FILIPINO 
BOXERS, 
AND 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress 
assem bled:
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SECTION. 1. S h o rt Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Philippine
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Boxing Commission Act of 2017”.
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SEC. 2. D eclaratio n  o f Policy. - It is the declared policy to strengthen 
and ensure the continued growth of the boxing industry in the country through 
a national government agency that will not only pursue the sports’ development 
program but also utilize the sport as a source of revenue and employment to 
promote the safety and welfare of Filipino boxers, and provide supplem ental 
assistance to the industry’s registered stakeholders.
SEC. 3. D efinition o f Term s. -  For purposes of this Act, the following 
term s shall be defined as follows:
a. C om m ission -  shall refer to the Philippine Boxing Commission;
b. Boxer -  m eans an individual who fights another in a boxing m atch;
c. License -  shall refer to a docum ent issued by the Commission 
authorizing a person or entity to be a professional boxer, to perform 
duties as a coach or trainer of a professional boxer, a prom oter for a 
professional boxing m atch, or a judge or referee in said m atch;
d. M anager -  m eans a person who receives com pensation for service as 
an agent or representative of a professional boxer;


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e. P erm it -  shall refer to a docum ent issued by the Commission 
authorizing a person or entity to hold, promote or engage in the 
conduct or operation of a professional boxing m atch;
f. Prim ary beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the 
spouse and children;
g. Professional boxer -  shall refer to a boxer who is issued a license by 
the Commission to receive a sum  of money or other com pensation as 
a salary or prize money for fighting in a boxing m atch;
h. Professional boxing m a tc h - shall refer to a boxing m atch held in the 
Philippines between professional boxers that shall receive money or 
other com pensation for fighting in said m atch, but shall not refer to a 
boxing contest that is regulated by an am ateur sports organization; 
P rom oter -  shall refer 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 m atch. 
The term “prom oter” does not include a hotel, casino, resort, or other 
commercial establishm ent hosting or sponsoring a professional 
boxing m atch unless - (i) the hotel, casino, resort, or other 
commercial establishm ent is primarily responsible for organizing, 
promoting and producing the m atch; and (ii) there is no person or 
group of persons primarily responsible for organizing, promoting and 
producing the m atch;
j. Secondary beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the 
parents, and in their absence, to the siblings.
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SEC. 4. C reation o f th e  P h ilip p in e B oxing Com m ission. -  For the
purpose of carrying out the above declared policy, there is hereby created the 
Philippine Boxing Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, 
which shall be directly under the adm inistrative supervision of the Office of the 
President.
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SEC. 5. 
Objectives. -  The Commission shall have the following 
objectives:
a) 
To strengthen the boxing industry in the Philippines towards 
developing world-class professional boxers;


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b) To utilize the sport for revenue and employment in order to promote
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th e safety a n d  w elfare of boxers a n d  provide su p p lem en ta l a ssista n c e  to th e
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in d u s try ’s registered stak eh o ld ers;
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SEC. 6. M em bership. -  The Commission shall be composed of a 
Chairm an and six (6) m em bers th at shall be appointed by the President of the 
Philippines: Provided, that the Chairm an and two of the m em bers shall be 
chosen from nom inees of the Games and Am usem ent Board, one Member 
chosen from the nominee of the D epartm ent of Health, and three Members 
from the private sectors.
Nominations by the GAB and the DOH shall be subm itted to the Office of 
the President thirty (30) days prior to expiration of the term  of office of 
incum bents, or within thirty (30) days from the occurrence of any vacancy in 
the Commission. Said nom inees shall have nationally recognized experience 
and comprehensive knowledge in professional boxing activities and known 
integrity.
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SEC. 7. Term  o f Office. -  The term  of office of the com m issioners shall 
be six (6) years; Provided, that no vacancy shall be filled except for the 
unexpired portion of any term; and Provided, further, that the Chairm an or any 
m em ber of the Commission whose term  of office has expired shall hold over in 
office until his successor shall have been appointed and has qualified. The 
Chairm an and m em bers of the Commission may be suspended or removed by 
the President of the Philippines.
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SEC. 8. M eetings a n d  Q uorum . The Commission shall meet regularly 
once a m onth and as often as the exigencies of the service may dem and, upon 
the call of the Chairm an or upon the request of three (3) m em bers of the 
Commission. The vote of a majority of the entire M embership shall be 
necessary for the adoption of any rule, resolution or decision of the 
Commission.
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SEC. 9. A llow ances a n d  P er Diems. -  The Chairm an and m em bers of 
the Commission shall each receive a monthly allowance of eight thousand 
pesos and a per diem not to exceed five hundred pesos for each m eeting 
actually attended by him: Provided, th at such allowance and per diem s shall 
not exceed twelve thousand pesos during one month.


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SEC. 10. Pow ers a n d  D uties o f th e  Com m ission. - The Commission 
shall have the following powers:
a) To formulate, review and update the rules and procedures related to 
professional boxing in the Philippines in conformity to international standards 
in order to regulate the boxing industry for the accom plishm ent of its 
objectives;
b) To establish rules, set requirem ents, and collect fees for the 
procurem ent of a license by, or issuance and renewal of a license to a 
professional boxer, a coach or trainer of a professional boxer, a prom oter for a 
professional boxing m atch, or a judge or referee in said m atch, and the 
procurem ent of and issuance of a perm it for a professional boxing m atch; or 
the suspension or revocation of such license or permit, in order to limit 
participation in professional boxing m atches and other related activities to 
licensed and appropriately fit individuals;
c) To m aintain an integrated registry of professional boxers, coaches, 
trainers, judges, referees, and prom oters who will comprise the registered 
stakeholders of the industry;
d) To request the assistance and support of any government agency, 
office 
or 
instrum entality 
including 
government-owned 
and 
controlled 
corporations, 
local 
government 
units 
as 
well 
as 
non-governm ental 
organizations or institutions in the pursuit of its objectives and the execution 
of its other powers and duties;
e) To establish linkages with international boxing organizations or 
institutions and counterpart agencies of foreign governm ents in order to 
facilitate and ensure the participation of Filipino professional boxers in 
international boxing events;
f) To formulate and im plement a comprehensive and progressive health 
care program, alternative livelihood program, a system  of life insurance, 
disability and death benefits and other benefits for all boxers participating in 
boxing events/m atches sanctioned by the Commission;
g) To facilitate a pension system  through the Social Security System 
(SSS) an d /o r private insurance com panies for qualified professional boxers;
h) To determ ine and set a safety standard for and to ensure that 
emergency medical personnel and services are available in every professional 
boxing m atch in the Philippines;
i) To act as a quasi-judicial board when it shall deem necessary to 
initiate, undertake, hear and decide any investigation for any violation of its


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rules 8s regulations concerning professional boxing and, in connection 
therewith, shall have the power to issue subpoenae and subpoenae duces 
tecum.
j) To subm it an annual report on the im plem entation of this Act to the 
Office of the President and to Congress; and
k) To perform such other functions as may be necessary to effectively and 
efficiently carry out the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 11. S e c re ta ria t. -  The Commission shall constitute and establish 
a Secretariat that shall be headed by an Executive Director, who shall also be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines, and staffed as may be 
determ ined by the Commission. The Secretariat shall be tasked to implement 
the policies and program s approved by the Commission, and to adm inister its 
duties and day to day functions. Their salaries, allowances and other 
em olum ents shall be determ ined by the Commission in accordance with Civil 
Service rules and other relevant and existing laws.
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SEC. 12. 
B oxing O fficials. - All the boxing officials involved in any 
boxing event shall not receive funds or com pensation, in any form, directly or 
indirectly, from the prom oter or its agents. Such funds shall be coursed 
through and collected by the Commission for appropriate disbursem ent.
SEC. 13. H ealth  C are B enefits. -  All professional boxers shall be 
enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program (PhilHealth) to enable them  
to receive and avail of an adequate package of personal health services 
including, but not limited to, in-patient hospital care, out-patient care, 
emergency and transfer services, and other supplem entary health benefits, as 
may be provided in the PhilHealth program s. The cost of prem ium  contribution 
shall be fully paid by the Commission to be directly rem itted to the Philhealth.
In case of hospitalization in any governm ent hospital or clinic, any 
required hospital and physician’s fees in excess of PhilHealth benefit shall be 
shouldered by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), provided that 
the boxer shall comply with the requirem ents for qualification and grant of 
health care assistance to be extended by the PCSO consistent with and subject 
to compliance with PCSO’s existing rules and guidelines.


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SEC. 14. A ltern ativ e L ivelihood P ro g ram s f o r  R etired  a n d /o r In ju red  
P ro fessio n al B oxers. -  The Commission, in coordination with various 
stakeholders in the boxing industiy, shall establish an alternative livelihood 
training program and referral system  for retired a n d /o r injured boxing 
cham pions.
SEC. 15. R etirem en t B enefits, — Professional Filipino boxers who won a 
world cham pionship in the World Boxing Cham pionship (WBC), International 
Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO), World Boxing 
Association (WBA) shall receive a lifetime retirem ent pension of Twenty 
Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) m onthly upon reaching the age of sixty (60). 
Retirement benefits under this Act shall be separate and distinct from the 
m andatory requirem ent benefits provided by existing laws.
The Commission is authorized to adjust the benefits provided in this 
section every ten (10) years based on studies, consultations, and public 
hearings with relevant agencies and entities. However, no m em orandum  order 
or issuance shall dim inish the prescribed retirem ent incentive benefits.
SEC. 16. S urvivorship B enefits. -  In the event of the death of the 
Professional boxer, h is/h er surviving legal spouse or in the absence of such 
spouse, h is/h er other primary beneficiaries together, or in the latter’s absence 
h is/h er secondary beneficiaries in the order m entioned under Section 3 (j), 
shall receive the monthly pension due him, as-provided under Section 16 of 
this Act.
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SEC. 17. E d u catio n  a n d  T rain in g  B enefits. — A Professional boxer, or 
the boxer’s designated beneficiary, may avail any of the following scholarship 
program s, subject to a selection process and accreditation of the participating 
institutions as may be determ ined by the Commission:
a) 
Skills-for Employment Scholarship Program. -  For technical or 
vocational training scholarship;
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Education 
for 
Development 
Scholarship 
Program. 
— 
For 
baccalaureate program; and
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Boxing Sports Science Program. - To ensure the competitive 
advantage of Filipino boxers in achieving healthy and safety boxing standards.


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The annual scholarship lists of all these program s shall be subm itted to 
the Commission
SEC. 18. A p p ro p riatio n s. -  The am ount of One H undred Fifty Million 
Pesos (PI50,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the initial im plem entation of 
this Act, which shall be taken from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office 
(PCSO) and the Philippine Am usem ent and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in 
equal shares. Thereafter, such am ount needed to im plement this Act shall be 
included in the Annual Appropriations of the Commission subject to the 
retention of the am ount m andated under Section 20 of this Act. The 
Commission is hereby authorized to re-align its appropriations in the current 
year of the date of effectivity of this Act to conform with the requirem ents of 
this Act.
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SEC. 19. B oxers W elfare D evelopm ent T ru st Fund. -  There shall be an 
independent and separate tru st fund established under this Act, to be 
adm inistered by the Commission. An am ount not less than eighty per cent 
(80%) accrued from the licensing, registration and accreditation fees and fines 
and charges shall be used for the purpose of the Boxers Welfare Development 
Trust Fund, ten per cent (10%) for the national Government Share and the 
rem aining ten per cent (10%) for adm inistration. 
The tru st fund may also 
accept grants and donations from national and foreign entities and individuals 
interested in the development of the boxing industry.
The said Trust Fund shall be used for, but not limited to, the death and 
disability benefits of the professional boxers. The guidelines for the availm ent of 
the said benefits shall be determ ined by the Commission based on the 
actuarial studies.
SEC. 20. 
T ran sito ry  Prom sion. -  Pending the organization of the 
Commission, the Games and Am usem ents Board (GAB) shall continue to exercise 
the duties and functions in relation to professional boxing sports.
Such am ount under the Boxer’s Welfare Fund, under the GAB shall then 
be transferred to the Boxers’ Welfare Development T rust Fund of the 
Commission and will form part of the initial appropriations of the Commission.
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SEC. 
21. 
Im plem enting R ules 
a n d  R eg u latio n s (IRR). 
-  The
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C om m ission in c o n su ltatio n  w ith the D ep artm en t of H ealth (DOH), th e


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D epartm ent of Education (DepED), the CHED, the TESDA, the D epartm ent of 
Finance (DOF), the BIR, the PAGCOR, the PCSO, the PhilHealth, am ong others, 
and other concerned agencies shall prom ulgate and issue the IRR within sixty 
(60) days upon approval of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the 
Commission to prom ulgate the rules 
and regulations shall not prevent the 
im plementation of this Act upon its effectivity.
SEC. 22. R epealing C lause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 23. S e p a ra b ility  C lause. -  If any part or provision of this Act shall 
be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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SEC. 24. E ffectivity C lause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) new spapers of 
general circulation.
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Approved,