REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1962

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN TL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our professional athletes risk lives and limbs in order to give honor and glory to the
motherland. They often forego employment opportunities to practice and perfect their craft in
the hope that they can one day win that coveted Championship on international sports
competition and make us proud to be Filipinos. When they win, they receive our praise,
exultation and collective adulation at least while they remain champions and winners. When
their reign is over, they often find themselves alone, abandoned and without any viable means
to support themselves and their families.

It is a sad reality but we often see Filipino world champions and sporting heroes suffer and
even die penniless after their heydays. Clearly, something has to be done to help those who
have brought us honor and glory to at least have a decent life after their glory days
Champions are champions. They deserve something better than a mere pat in the back or the
short-lived adulation of his countrymen,

This bill, therefore, seeks to grant financial benefits to our prized athletes in the form of
retirement pensions, health care and death benefit. Admittedly, even the benefits proposed in
this bill are at best modest and inadequate compared to the sacrifices and hardships our
athletes had to endure for our country but at least the same will signify and symbolize our
collective expression of gratitude for the honor and glory they have brought our country. The
same represent a starting point in the continuing effort to look after the welfare and interest of
our professional athletes.

In view of the foregoing circumstances, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly

sought.

MAN “ABOCHAN Ill
Representa)
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. ade

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN Tl

AN ACT
GRANTING RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE AND DEATH BENEFITS TO
PROFESSIONAL FILIPINO ATHLETES WHO WIN WORLD CHAMPIOSHIP
TITLES IN INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS OR IN
OTHER EQUALLY PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL GAMES AND PROVIDING
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 "Professional Filipino
Athletes Retirement, Health Care and Death Benefits Act of 2016."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall provide retirement, health care, and
death benefits to professional Filipino athletes who win world championship titles in
international professional sports competitions or in other equally prestigious world
championship games, in both individual or team events, in recognition of the glory and honor
they have bestowed to the country.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:

a. Board - shall refer to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB);

b. Filipino Athlete - shall refer to professional athletes who are citizens of the
Philippines, except those enjoying dual citizenship by virtue of R.A. No. 9225
otherwise known as the "Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003";

c. International Professional Sports Competitions - shall refer to international
bodies that are recognized, accredited and have a mutual working relationship,
agreement, and/or memorandum of understanding with the Board;

d. International Sporting Organizations - shall refer to international bodies that are
recognized, accredited, and have a mutual working relationship, agreement,
and/or memorandum of understanding with the Board;


e. Other Equally Prestigious World Championship Games - shall refer to other
international professional sports competitions that confer the same rank or stature
as world championship titles and are recognized as such by the Board;

£ Primary Beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the legitimate
spouse and legitimate or illegitimate children;

g. Professional Athlete - shall refer to any natural person who is paid a sum of
money or other equivalent compensation as a salary or prize money for
participating in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional sport, either
as an individual contestant or a member of a team, under a contract entered into
with a professional sports promoter/operator or team owner and licensed by the
Board;

h. Professional Sports - shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contest,
bouts, tournaments or competitions whereby the participating athlete is paid sums
of money or other forms of compensation as regular salary or prize for
participation, which are accredited and/or recognized by the Board; and

i, Secondary beneficiaries - for purposes of this Act, shall refer to the parents, and
in their absence, to the brothers or sister of professional athletes.

CHAPTER IL
RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE AND DEATH BENEFITS

SEC. 4. Retirement Benefits. - Professional Filipino Athletes, as defined under this
Act, who win in international professional sports competitions shall, upon reaching the age of
fifty (50), receive the following retirement benefits:

a. For Individual Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at least Fifteen Thousand Pesos
(Php 15,000.00) for the individual winner; or

b. For Team Events - a lifetime monthly pension of at last Ten Thousand Pesos
(Php10,000.00) for each team member:Provided,That for athletes who win in
individual and team events, the retirement benefits for individual events shall apply.

‘Athletes who are actively employed at the time they reach the age of fifty (50) and
have availed of the retirement benefits under this Act may continue with such
employment:Provided, That the retirement benefits under this Act shall be separate and
distinct from the mandatory retirement benefits provided by existing laws or pursuant to
existing company policies.

SEC. 5. Health Care Benefits.- Immediately upon winning in any international
professional sports competitions, Professional Filipino Athletes shall be covered by the
National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth), through a special program sponsored by the Board, which will provide the
required local government premium counterpart to be directly remitted to the PhilHealth
Upon reaching the age of fifty (50), the athlete shall continue to be a member of the program,
subject to existing rules and .regulation of the PhilHealth.


In case of hospitalization of the Professional Filipino athlete in any hospital or clinic,
any amount in excess of the PhilHealth benefit shall be shouldered by the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under its Individual Medical Assistance Program
(IMAP):Provided, That the requirement for qualification and grant of the health care
assistance to be extended by the PCSO shall be made consistent with and subject to
compliance with PCSO's existing rules and guidelines:Provided, further, That any qualified
beneficiary shall have the option to waive the benefits mentioned under this Section.

SEC. 6. Death Benefits. - Upon the death of a Professional Filipino Athlete, the
primary beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum death benefit of Fifty Thousand Pesos
(Php 50,000.00) to cover funeral services/expenses:Provided, That, if there are no primary
beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to said benefits

SEC. 7. Adjustment of Retirement Benefits. - The Board is hereby authorized to
adjust the retirement benefits provided in Section 4 hereof, based on studies, consultations
and public hearings with relevant agencies and entities. However, no memorandum, order or
issuance shall diminish the prescribed retirement benefits provided herein.

CHAPTER III
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The Chairman of the Board shall immediately include in
the Board's program the implementation of the benefits under this Act, the funding of which
shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Professional Filipino Athletes Welfare Development Trust Fund.- There
shall be an independent and separate trust fund established under this Act, to be administered
by the Board. An amount not less than eighty percent (80%) for the first five (5) years,
accrued from the licensing, registration and accreditation fees, fines and charges shall be used
for the purpose of the professional Filipino athlete's welfare development trust fund. The fund
shall be used for the continued upgrading of training facilities to conform with international
standards, accreditation of, and other forms of assistance and support to the professional
athlete's sector. The trust fund may also accept grants and donations from national and
foreign entities and individual interested in the professional athletes' development.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Board within ninety (90) days,
afier the effectivity of this Act, through a technical working committee, and in consultation
with the sectors concemed, shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and
regulations for the full implementation of this Act:Provided, however, That copies of the
formulated rules and regulations shall be submitted to the Committee on Games and
Amusement of both Houses of Congress. Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon
publication in a newspaper of general circulation,

SEC. 12. Reportorial Requirements.- The Board shall submit an annual report of the
implementation of this Act to the relevant committees of both Houses of Congress.

SEC. 13, Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the law or other provisions, which are not
affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.


ausunke

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,