Institutionalizing Palarong Pambansa

Policy, objectives, and intent

Section 2 declares it the policy of the State 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 a healthy and alert citizenry through the institutionalization of the Palarong Pambansa as the country’s premier national sporting event.
Section 2 directs that all educational institutions must promote physical education and undertake regular sports activities as well as support the local meets and the Palarong Pambansa.
Section 3 institutionalizes the Palarong Pambansa as the premier national sporting event of the country under the Department of Education (DepED) for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of student athletes.
Section 3 improves DepED’s national school sports program and gives more prestige to the annual sports event through incentives and rewards to encourage better participation by schools.
Section 3 encourages LGUs to take a proactive role in promotion locally and nationally by providing incentives and rewards.

Creation and attachment of Palarong Board

Section 4 creates the Palarong Pambansa Board (the “Board”), as the lead policy-making and coordinating body for the preparation and conduct of the Palarong Pambansa.
The Board is attached to DepED and is the proprietary owner of the phrase “Palarong Pambansa” and its related symbols, logos, and concept under Section 4.
Section 4 entitles Board members to reimbursement of actual traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, subject to pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.
Section 5 fixes the Board’s membership at ten (10) members.
Section 5 provides the Board composition as: (a) DepED Secretary as Chairperson; (b) four (4) Undersecretaries of DepED; (c) three (3) Assistant Secretaries of DepED; (d) Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC); and (e) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Board powers and duties; Secretariat

The Board formulates policies and guidelines governing the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa and other related school-based sports activities leading to it under Section 6.
The Board reviews and regularly updates rules and regulations of sports included in the Palarong Pambansa in accordance with international standards under Section 6.
The Board develops and recommends programs and policies to promote the Palarong Pambansa, increase public awareness, persuade schools to participate and improve performance, and encourage LGUs to support and promote it under Section 6.
The Board provides incentives and rewards to participating schools and LGUs, including medal winners under Section 6.
Section 6 authorizes the Board to issue policies and guidelines on accreditation of athletes, coaches, and chaperones.
Section 6 empowers the Board to: create a Palarong Pambansa Communications Task Force, create the National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC), appoint a Secretary General, conduct regular inventory of sports facilities and equipment, formulate guidelines for students with disability, assess conduct and submit an annual report to Congress, and enter contracts/obligations essential to its purposes.
The Board must create and manage marketing strategies to generate funds and promote the Palarong Pambansa, including royalties, merchandising, and advertisements under Section 6.
Section 7 requires the Board to appoint a Secretary General from among its members representing DepED.
The Secretary General recommends the Secretariat’s composition and all activities requiring utilization of funds under Section 7.
The Secretariat is drawn from existing personnel of DepED, PSC, and DILG, and manages the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa and other activities leading to it under Section 7.
Section 8 requires DepED Regional Offices to organize Regional Athletics Associations (RAAs) to supervise regional meets and organize their regional delegations to the Palarong Pambansa.

Hosting rules and host selection criteria

Section 9 provides that hosting is determined by bidding guided by the principle of rotation among geographic clusters: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Section 9 allows two (2) adjoining LGUs to host together provided one host LGU lacks available venues and facilities to accommodate all sports events.
Section 9 authorizes the host LGU to constitute a local Palarong Pambansa Board to coordinate preparation and conduct of the Palaro.
Section 10 directs the Board to formulate criteria for host LGU selection considering: existing sports facilities; capacity to accommodate participants and guests; security and peace and order situation; and the need of the LGU to promote and showcase socioeconomic and cultural uniqueness through the event.
Section 10 mandates that existing sports facilities are given the highest weight among the criteria.

Promotion, incentives, and communications

Section 11 requires the Board to provide incentives to winning LGUs to encourage participation in bidding for hosting.
Section 11 requires the Board to provide incentives to schools that field students/athletes representing their regions in the Palarong Pambansa, including financial support for additional scholarships and improvement of sports and physical education programs.
Section 12 requires the Board to create a Palarong Pambansa Communications Group with duties to formulate marketing and communications plans to promote the event and encourage LGUs to bid and schools to improve sports and physical education programs for athlete representation.
Section 12 requires the Communications Group to ensure coverage of the event by both national and local media.
Section 12 requires the Communications Group to enter into sponsorship, merchandising, and royalty agreements with private entities as additional sources of funds.
Section 12 requires the Communications Group composition to include representatives from DepED, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), PSC, and DepED Regional Offices.

Eligibility, NSAC accreditation, and appeals

Section 13 requires the Board to constitute the NSAC to evaluate and verify authenticity of documents submitted by athletes, coaches, and chaperones applying for accreditation.
Section 13 provides that NSAC accredits qualified athletes, coaches, and chaperones and submits a masterlist to the Board at least two (2) months before the Palarong Pambansa.
Section 14 provides NSAC composition as: a representative from DepED Legal Division; two (2) government physicians; two (2) government dentists; and an authorized representative from each RAA.
Section 15 requires the Board to issue guidelines for addressing protests and appeals on eligibility or disqualification decisions.
Section 15 mandates that all protests and appeals be resolved with finality within thirty (30) days from receipt.

Sports events, standards, and disability

Section 16 provides that official sports events include, but are not limited to, the following Elementary Division events: Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, and Arnis.
Section 16 provides that official sports events include, but are not limited to, the following Secondary Division events: Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Billiards, Boxing, Chess, Football, Futsal, Gymnastics, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, and Wushu.
Section 16 requires appropriate sports events to be organized for students with disability.
Section 17 requires the Board to conduct review of current rules and regulations and an inventory of existing sports facilities, venues, and equipment being used in the Palarong Pambansa.
Section 17 requires all sports events to be played according to international rules and regulations.
Section 17 requires sports venues, facilities, and equipment to be in accordance with international standards.
Section 17 requires the Board to consult National Sports Associations (NSAs) in reviewing the rules and regulations of each sports event.

Roles of PSC and DILG

Section 18 requires the PSC, in cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and through appropriate NSAs, to ensure success by performing specified duties.
Section 18 requires PSC to make available manpower and technical resources and facilities for the Palarong Pambansa and other school-based sports and physical education programs of DepED.
Section 18 requires PSC, in coordination with DepED, to formulate and implement a training program for outstanding athletes of the Palarong Pambansa for continuity of athletic development and education.
Section 18 requires PSC to provide technical support to DepED programs training teachers, coaches, and officiating teams.
Section 18 requires PSC to provide technical support in formulation of equipment specifications to be procured for the Palarong Pambansa.
Section 18 allows PSC to endorse qualified non-DepED personnel as event managers to assist in conduct, while also requiring PSC technical support for programs training DepED and non-DepED personnel who will manage events.
Section 19 requires DILG to direct the Philippine National Police to prepare and implement a comprehensive security plan for the LGU where the Palarong Pambansa is held.
Section 19 requires DILG to appoint a representative to the local Board and to direct all LGUs where events will be played to coordinate, cooperate, and support the Board’s plans, programs, and activities.

Appropriations, IRR, and legal effect

Section 20 provides that amounts currently appropriated in the General Appropriations Act for conduct of the Palarong Pambansa, including pre-national Palaro activities under DepED, are allocated and utilized for initial implementation.
Section 20 provides that thereafter, funds necessary for continued implementation are included under DepED’s budget in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 21 requires DepED, together with concerned agencies, to prepare and promulgate IRR within ninety (90) days after approval of the Act.
Section 21 provides that the IRR take effect fifteen (15) days following publication in a major daily newspaper of general circulation.
Section 22 provides a separability clause: invalidity or unconstitutionality of any provision does not affect remaining provisions.
Section 23 repeals, amends, or modifies laws, decrees, executive orders (particularly Executive Order No. 433), presidential issuances, and administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with Republic Act No. 10588.
Section 24 sets effectivity as fifteen (15) days after publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.