REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 809

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates the State to conserve, promote and protect the nation’s rich historical and cultural heritage. An oft neglected but fundamental compononent of this heritage are traditional games and sports, which are widely considered “dying cultural legacies” owing to the undeniable popularity and dominance, especially among the youth, of video games and electronic sports, as well as of Western sports.

Yet Philippine traditional games and sports, like luksong tinik, patintero, sipa and the recently-declared National Sport, Arnis have a lot to boast in terms of creativity, recreation, ingenuity, athletic training and social interaction. They are reflective of Philippine cultural values and develop traits such as camaraderie, sportsmanship and personal and team integrity. Collectively, these games and sports constitute a heritage Filipinos should be proud of and, as such, Congress should act to promote and protect, most especially among the youth.

This bill therefore seeks to mandate the inclusion of the study and practice of Philippine traditional games and sports in all Physical Education (P.E.) courses of educational institutions, at all levels, both private and public. It also encourages various sports competitions organized by local government units, non-governemnt organizations and the private sector to follow the same.

In the name of promoting the oft neglected but fundamental component of Filipino heritage that is tradional games and sports, the swift passage of this bill is most earnestly sought.

Hon. Raymond V. Palatino
Representative, Kabataan Party-List

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 809

Introduced by KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raymond V. Palatino

AN ACT
MANDATING THE INCLUSION OF PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL GAMES AND SPORTS IN THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION (P.E.) COURSES IN ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Philippine Traditional Games and Sports Act of 2009.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to foster patriotism, nationalism and sportsmanship by giving due priority to sports programs that shall revive, promote and enhance the country’s traditional games and sports.

SECTION 3. Objectives. – The objectives of the Philippine Traditional Games Act of 2009 are to preserve and promote Philippine cultural heritage and national identity among the people, most especially the youth, by mandating the inclusion of traditional games and sports in the Physical Education (P.E.) courses in all levels of educational institutions and sports activities, such as but not limited to sports festivals or palaro and intramurals, of local government units. Furthermore, the Actl shall encourage all non-government and civil society organizations to follow the same for their sports activities.

SECTION 4. Philippine Traditional Games and Sports. – For purposes of this Act, Philippine traditional games and sports shall include the following: agawang sulok, araw-lilim, arnis, aso at pusa, bulong pari, bunong braso, dama, garter, hulaan, holen, iring-iring, istatwa, jack en poy, jackstone, kapit bakod, laglalg panyo, lawin at sisiw, luksong baja, luksong lubid, luksong tinik, palo sebo, patintero, piko, pitik bulag, saranggolahan, sipa, sikloy, siksik bulak, sungka, suot lungga, taguan, takip-silim, tatsing, tumbang preso, turumpa, viola, yoyo and other such traditional games played in various villages and localities in the country.

SECTION 5. Inclusion of Philippine Traditional Games and Sports in the Phyiscal Education (P.E.) Courses. – The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are hereby directed to mandate the inclusion the aforesaid Philippine Traditional Games and sports in the P.E. courses in all educational institutions, at all levels, both private and public. They shall separately determine which traditional games and sports shall be included in all P.E. Courses and school-based competitions.

SECTION 6. Local Government Units and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Private Sector Participation in the Revival and Promotion of Traditional Games and Sports. – The local government units, NGOs and the private sector shall undertake sports activities throughout the country through sports competitions and the like participated in by the residents in their respective localities for the revival and promotion of traditional games and sports.

SECTION 7. Implementating Rules and Regulations. – The DepEd and CHED shall promulgate and issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,