Official Passports for National Athletes and Coaches

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES MAY -4 P3:21 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 2081 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT GRANTING OFFICIAL PASSPORTS TO NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 5 AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11983, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NEW PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State shall give priority to sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. Filipino athletes embody this mandate by bringing honor and pride to the country on the international stage. However, their physical prowess is often sidelined by administrative hurdles, specifically the agonizing process of acquiring clearance to enter foreign territories for their designated matches and conditioning camps. In April 2025, tennis sensation Alex Eala publicly highlighted the extreme stress of frequently organizing last-minute visas at various embassies for top-tier events which detracts from her focus on training in a sport that demands scheduling flexibility to chase crucial ranking

points.' World-class pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena was also forced to withdraw from the Doha Leg of the Diamond League due to visa and passport problems just a day after securing a bronze medal in Rome?, while the issue even extends into the digital arena, causing Filipino Dota 2 player Erin Jasper "Yopaj" Ferrer to miss the 2024 PGL Wallachia tournament in Romania.3 By amending Republic Act No. 11983 to grant official passports to national athletes and coaches through this bill, the government can tear down these bureaucratic complexities, ensuring that our sporting heroes can represent the country and focus fully on their performance. Therefore, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO Hilotin, Jay, "Alex Eala: Visa woes of rising tennis star highlight challenges for Filipino athletes", April 11, 2025, retrieved from: https://gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/alex-eala-visa-struggles-of-filipina-tennis-star-highlight- challenges-for-athletes-1.500090215, retrieved on April 28, 2026. 2 Villar, Joey, "Visa woes sidelines Obiena from Doha pole vault tourney", September 19, 2020, retrieved from: https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/09/19/2043643/visa-woes-sidelines-obiena-doha-pole-vault-tourney, retrieved on April 28, 2026. 3 Zulkiflee, S. (2024). GH and SumaiL to play for Shopify Rebellion in PGL Wallachia. Esports GG. Retrieved from: https://esports.gg/news/dota-2/gh-and-sumail-stand-in-for-shopify-rebellion/, retrieved on April 28, 2026.

Senate Difire of the Soccretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) MAY -4 P3:21 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 2081 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT GRANTING OFFICIAL PASSPORTS TO NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 5 AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11983, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NEW PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 11983, or the New

Philippine Passport Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "Sec. 5. Requirements for the Application and Issuance of a Passport. - The DFA Secretary, or a duly authorized consular official, shall issue a passport to an applicant who is a Filipino citizen and who has complied with the following requirements: XXX (M) FOR NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES, AS DEFINED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10699, OR THE "NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT," SEEKING TO

APPLY FOR OFFICIAL PASSPORT SHALL SUBMIT A TRAVEL AUTHORITY ISSUED BY THE HEAD OR DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION (PSC), THE PHILIPPINE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (POC), OR THE PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (PPC), WHICHEVER IS APPLICABLE."

SEC. 2. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 11983 is hereby amended

to read as follows: "Sec. 7. Types of Passports. - The DFA Secretary or the authorized consular official may issue the following types of passports: (b) Official Passports are issued to all government officials and employees, AS WELL AS OTHER QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, AS PROVIDED IN THIS ACT, on official trip abroad but who are not on a diplomatic mission or have not been accorded diplomatic status, such as: (5) NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES, AS DEFINED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10699, OR THE "NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT," WHO ARE TRAVELING ABROAD TO PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING PROGRAMS OR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND ARE OFFICIALLY ENDORSED BY THE PSC, POC, OR PPC, WHICHEVER IS APPLICABLE."

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty

(30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Foreign Affairs, PSC, POC, PPC, in consultation with the National Sports Associations, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of

2 this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, letters of

7 instruction, executive orders, rules and regulations and other issuances 8 or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 9 modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

12 after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,