Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 871)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 871 is to place professional basketball games and other professional games under the supervision and regulation of the Games and Amusements Board to ensure integrity, provide protection, and maintain moral, social, and cultural values.
The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) is vested with the supervision and regulation authority over professional basketball games and other professional games in the Philippines.
The Board can prescribe rules, enforce laws and regulations relating to professional games, approve or disapprove rules by other entities, supervise officials and employees, issue and revoke licenses and permits, order suspensions, appoint personnel, conduct investigations and hearings, summon parties and inspect records, and perform other necessary duties to enforce the decree.
Players, referees, scorers, timekeepers, coaches, and other persons performing duties connected with professional basketball games or other professional games must be duly licensed by the Board.
The license fees are: P100 annually for professional basketball teams; P50 annually for coaches, players, and referees; and P20 annually for timekeepers, scorers, and other persons the Board deems necessary to license.
They must set aside and remit three percent (3%) of the gross gate receipts and income from television, radio, and motion picture rights to the Board, except for professional basketball games conducted by the Philippine Basketball Association which are subject only to a five percent amusement tax on gross admission ticket sales.
The Board can suspend or revoke the license or permit of the official or person, order temporary suspension of the license or the game, and conduct investigations and hearings regarding the violation.
Appeals from orders, rulings, and decisions of the Board on matters arising out of basketball may be made to the Office of the President within seventy-two (72) hours from receipt, whose decision shall be final.
All sums paid to the Board in payment of license or permit fees shall be deemed forfeited upon the cancellation or revocation of such license or permit.