Young Athletes Assistance Act

Senatr Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 MAY 25 P5:04 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2167 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT ASSISTING YOUNG ATHLETES BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT EXPLANATORY NOTE Sports play a vital role in nation-building. Beyond promoting physical fitness, sports help shape young Filipinos into disciplined, confident, and resilient individuals equipped with essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and respect. Participation in sports likewise contributes to youth development, social inclusion, and the cultivation of excellence and national pride. Despite the immense talent and potential of many Filipino athletes, access to sports opportunities remains limited for countless young individuals, particularly those from low-income families and underserved communities. Many aspiring athletes are forced to abandon their dreams because of the high cost of training, participation fees, equipment, transportation, and other related expenses. The lack of adequate sports facilities and accessible community-based sports programs further limits the development of young athletes across the country. Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick C. Gregorio expressed the urgency of transforming Southeast Asia's sports ecosystem into a structured economic and developmental powerhouse. 1 1 The Manila Times, M., Sports Report, 2026 May 5.

Young athletes represent the lifeblood and future of Philippine sports. However, the lack of accessible and adequate training facilities, particularly during the formative stages of athletic development, continues to hinder many promising athletes from reaching their full potential and achieving world-class competitiveness. Strengthening grassroots sports programs and improving sports infrastructure are therefore essential in cultivating future Filipino champions and advancing the country's overall sports development agenda. This bill seeks to address these barriers by establishing programs that will provide financial assistance to young athletes through sports participation vouchers and support for the development and improvement of local sports and recreation facilities. Through these initiatives, the State can help ensure that deserving young Filipinos are given equal opportunities to participate in sports and pursue athletic excellence regardless of socioeconomic status. By investing in grassroots sports development, the measure aims not only to nurture future champions but also to promote healthier communities, strengthen youth engagement, and foster a culture of sportsmanship and active living among Filipinos. In view thereof, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO

Senate A Office of the detretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 MAY 25 P5:04 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2167 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT ASSISTING YOUNG ATHLETES BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT 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 the "Young Athletes Assistance

2 Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. - Pursuant to the Constitution,

4 Article II, Section 17, the State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism accelerates social progress and promotes total human liberation and development. In addition to this. Article XIV, Section 19, paragraph 1 provides that the State 8 shall 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 the development of healthy and alert citizenry.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:

(a) "Athlete program" refers to an athletic program at any educational institution, sports club, or from the local or national government, and (b) "Young athlete" refers to any person who engages in sports and is below eighteen (18) years of age.

Sec. 4. Get Started, Get Going and Get Playing Funds. - Three separate

1 funds for the strengthening of grassroots sports programs are hereby created to be 2 administered by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Sec. 5. Get Started in Sports Fund. - Young athletes who cannot adequately

4 afford, or who may otherwise benefit from, participation in sports or recreation clubs 5 shall be eligible to receive a voucher amounting to Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00) 6 to help pay participation or membership fees. The vouchers may be redeemed only at 7 sports or recreation clubs duly accredited or registered under the program, subject to the rules and guidelines to be issued by the implementing agency.

Sec. 6. Get Going Fund. - This fund supports local sports and recreation

10 organizations with funding amounting to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) for projects that create opportunities for more young athletes to become members.

Sec. 7. Get Playing Fund. - This fund improves sports facilities by providing up

to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) in funding to assist local sports and recreation organizations with facility development so more young athletes are encouraged to become involved in sport or recreation activity of their choice.

Sec. 8. Funding Requirements - The amount of Eighty Million Pesos

(P80,000,000.00) shall be set aside from the revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation annually to be allocated for the funding of this Act.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions

thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation Approved,