Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES TO NATIONAL ATHLETES, 
CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As of writing, the Philippines has won a total of 14 medals in the Olympics—1 gold, 5 silver, and 8 
bronze medals. Four of these medals were won during the recently held 2020 Summer Olympics in 
Tokyo, Japan where the country wrapped its campaign as the top performing Southeast Asian country 
after bagging multiple medals in the Games—a first for the country since 1932. 
The Philippines’ historic Olympic gold medal was won by Filipina Olympian and airwoman Hidiliyn Diaz, 
who also brought home an Olympic silver medal in the last 2016 Rio Olympics. Meanwhile, the 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. 
Indeed, these athletes competing in international sports competitions, bring pride, honor, and glory 
to the country through their sterling performances on their respective world stages. They serve as an 
inspiration not only to Filipino athletes but to all Filipinos to strive and persevere in their respective 
fields. As such, it is only apt that the State recognizes outstanding athletes and provides them with 
sufficient assistance and benefits that will help them to reach greater heights.  
In this regard, this measure proposes to (1) grant distinctive honors and privileges to Filipino sports 
heroes; and (2) establish the Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund which shall be used to provide lifetime 
emoluments to National athletes and support the needs of awardees so they may continue to 
participate in local competitions or represent the country in international competitions.  
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. 
August 22, 2022
10:22 am
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REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
GRANTING DISTINCTIVE HONORS AND PRIVILEGES TO NATIONAL ATHLETES, 
CREATING A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND FOR SPORTS HEROES, 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 “Bayaning Atletang Pilipino Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to promote excellence in 
the field of sports and foster the values of sportsmanship, patriotism, and nationalism to support 
nation-building and development.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby defined 
as follows: 
a.
International sports competition shall refer to international sports competitions under the
following categories:
1.
Regular major competitions, such as but not limited to, the Summer Olympic
Games, Winter Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games, Youth Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Park Games,
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, and Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games;
2.
World-level championships held at least every two (2) years with at least forty-five
(45) countries participating by sport;
3.
Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five
(25) countries participating by sport; and
4.
Qualifying competitions for World-level games with at least ten (10) countries
participating;
b.
National Academy of Sports or NAS shall refer to the NAS System established under
Republic Act No. 11470 or any of its existing or future campuses which aims to provide
quality and enhanced secondary education program integrated with a special curriculum
on sports.
SECTION 4. The Order of National Athletes. – There is hereby established the Order of National 
Athletes (Orden ng mga Pambansang Atleta) which shall be the highest honor the Government of the 
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Philippines shall confer to its outstanding sports heroes who have brought immense pride and honor 
to the country and have dedicated their lives towards the advancement of their sports.  
 
The Order shall be under the National Orders of Cultural and Scientific Merit under the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 236, s. 2003. It shall be administered by the Komite ng 
Bayaning Atletang Filipino, otherwise known as the Committee, created under Section 8 of this Act, 
and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by the Committee.  
 
Olympic medalists shall automatically be conferred: the Orders, which shall be retroactive from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
Awardees of the Order of National Athletes shall enjoy the following privileges: 
a. 
The rank and title of National Athlete, as proclaimed by the President of the Philippines; 
b. 
The National Athlete medallion and citation; 
c. 
Lifetime emolument and material benefits such as: 
1. 
A cash award to be determined by the Committee, net of taxes for living awardees; 
2. 
A cash award to be determined by the Co11mittee, net of taxes for posthumous 
awardees and payable to legal heir/s; 
3. 
A monthly life pension and medical and hospitalization benefits; 
4. 
Life insurance coverage for awardees who are still insurable; 
5. 
A place of honor in state functions, national commemoration ceremonies, and all 
other sports and cultural events; and 
6. 
A state funeral, the arrangements for, and the expenses of which shall be borne 
by the Government upon the death of the National Athlete. 
 
SECTION 5. The National Medal of Excellence in Sports. – There is hereby established the 
National Medal of Excellence in Sports (Pambansang Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Husay sa Isports) 
for outstanding individual and team achievements in international sports competitions. The President 
of the Philippines shall confer the National Medal of Excellence in Sports upon recommendation by the 
Committee.  
 
SECTION 6. The Balangay Medal for Sportsmanship. – There is hereby established the Balangay 
Medal for Sportsmanship (Gawad Balangay) for heroic sportsmanship shown by athletes during 
international and local competitions exemplifying the values of honesty, fairness, selflessness, 
sacrifice, amity, and goodwill. The President of the Philippines shall confer the Balangay Medal for 
Sportsmanship upon recommendation by the Committee.  
 
SECTION 7. Coaching Excellence Medal. – There is hereby established the Coaching Excellence 
Medal (Gabay ng Atletang Pilipino) for coaches who have gone above and beyond in nurturing athletes 
to reach their full potential and lead the team to victory in international sports competitions. The 
President of the Philippines shall confer the Coaching Excellence Medal upon recommendation by the 
Committee.  
 
SECTION 8. Priority of Awardees and/or their Dependents in the National Academy of 
Sports Scholarship. – Awardees under this Act shall have the option and priority to enroll, on a full-
scholarship basis, in the National Academy of Sports System Main Campus or any regional nationally-
funded high schools for sports. In case the awardee has completed his/her secondary education, or 
in the case of a posthumous awardee, his/her legal heir may be prioritized in the entry into the National 
Academy of Sports or any regional nationally-funded high school for sports, subject to the 
requirements and qualifications as may be set by the NAS or the high school concerned.  
 


SECTION 9. Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Filipino. – The Committee shall be under the Office 
of the President. The Committee shall be composed of the following: 
a. Chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), as Chairman; 
b. Secretary of the Department of Education or an authorized representative, as Member; 
c. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education or an authorized representative, as 
Member; 
d. President of the Philippine Olympic Committee or an authorized representative, as Member; 
e. Chairperson of the Athletes' Commission or an authorized representative, as Member; 
f. 
Chairperson of the National Youth Commission or an authorized representative, as Member; 
and, 
g. Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or an authorized 
representative, as Member. 
 
SECTION 10. Role and Function of the Komite ng Bayaning Atletang Pilipino. – The 
Committee shall approve the criteria, standards, nomination and selection processes, and benefits and 
privileges of the recipients of the awards under this Act.  
 
The Committee shall likewise be the administrator of the Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports 
Heroes.  
 
SECTION 11. Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes. – There is hereby established 
a Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes to exclusively fund the benefits provided in this Act 
and support the continuous training of all the awardees and their participation or exposure in 
international sports competitions. 
a. The amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as seed money 
of the Endowment Fund; Provided, that no grant shall be awarded by the Committee except 
the interest drawn from the Fund; Provided, further, that no grant shall be awarded until after 
one (1) year from the organization of the Fund; 
b. The private portion of the Fund shall be raised from the donations and other conveyances by 
gratuitous title, including funds, materials, property, and services, 
c. Contribution to the Fund shall be deductible for income tax purposes under Section 34 
(h)(2)(a) of the National Internal Revenue Code; 
d. For the sound and judicious management of the Fund, the Committee shall appoint a reputable 
government-accredited investment institution as Fund Manager, subject to guidelines 
promulgated by the Committee and applicable government auditing and accounting rules; 
e. The Committee shall be the administrator of the Fund and shall prepare the implementing 
guidelines and decision-making mechanisms, subject to the following: 
1. 
Unless otherwise stipulated by the private donor, only earnings of private 
contributions shall be used; 
2. 
No part of the seed capital of the Fund, including earnings thereof, shall be used 
to underwrite overhead expenses for administration; 
3. 
The Committee shall organize a separate staff to be headed by a comptroller 
appointed by and directly responsible and accountable to the Committee; and 
4. 
The Fund shall be audited annually by an independent external auditor or the 
Commission on Audit, as may be appropriate. 
 
SECTION 12. Existing Incentives, Benefits, and Privileges. – The incentives, benefits, and 
privileges provided under this Act shall not diminish or affect existing incentives, benefits, and 
privileges provided in existing laws.  
 


SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Committee shall promulgate the 
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.  
 
SECTION 13. Appropriations. – The amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby 
appropriated to serve as seed money for the Hidilyn Diaz Endowment Fund for Sports Heroes as 
provided in Section 11 of this Act. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall 
be charged against the current year's appropriations of the PSC. Thereafter, such appropriations 
necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act.  
 
SECTION 14. Separability. – If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
 
SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, and administrative orders, or parts 
thereof that are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly.  
 
SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,