National Tertiary Games Act of 2025

Din cit 25 JUL 16 P4:12 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 678 Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL TERTIARY GAMES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Article 14, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution mandates 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 the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. In line with this, the proposed measure seeks to establish the National Tertiary Games (NTG) as the country's multi-sport collegiate tournament. Organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the NTG will provide a structured platform for student-athletes from public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country to showcase their athletic abilities and represent their institutions with pride. The NTG aims to strengthen grassroots sports development and contribute to the national sports agenda by identifying and honing young athletes with the potential to become part of national teams and compete in elite and international competitions. More than just competition, the NTG cultivates values such as discipline, perseverance, leadership, and sportsmanship among the youth.

This bill also seeks to bridge the existing gap between the Palarong Pambansa which caters to elementary and secondary students, and the Philippine National Games, which serve as the country's premier national sports competition. The institutionalization of the NTG provides a vital link in the national sports development ladder, ensuring continuity and progression in the athletic careers of Filipino youth from school-based sports to elite-level competition. Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO

JUL 16 P4:12 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BI SENATE 5. No.-678 Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE NATIONAL TERTIARY GAMES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "National Tertiary Games

2 Act of 2025."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article XIV, Section 19 (1) of the 1987 Constitution

5 provides that the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, 6 league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international sports 7 competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of 8 a healthy and alert citizenry. Further, Article XIV, Section 19 (2) of the 1987 Constitution provides that all educational institutions shall undertake regular sports activities throughout the country in cooperation with athletic clubs and other sectors, Pursuant thereto, the State shall establish an inclusive national sports competition among higher education institutions to promote sports excellence, foster values formation, and build character, while enhancing academic achievement among students.

SEC. 3. National Tertiary Games (NTG). - The National Tertiary Games (NTG) is

hereby established. The NTG shall be a national multi-sport tournament organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and shall serve as the country's collegiate sports competition, highlighting excellence at provincial, regional, and national levels, and providing a platform for discovering potential student-athletes who can become national and elite athletes. It shall be held once every year and shall be participated in by student- athletes from public and private higher education institutions in the country. 8 The NTG shall have the following purposes and objectives: (a) To establish a framework and structure for a fully integrated and comprehensive national tertiary sports program, connecting grassroots sports promotion with elite sports development, and encompassing sporting events designed for para-athletes and persons with disabilities; (b) To encourage all higher education institutions to promote the development of sports in their respective communities; (c) To establish a unified platform for all higher education institutions, both public and private, to showcase their athletes, advance their sports programs, and foster stronger connections within the collegiate sports community, aimed at achieving the highest international standards and alignment with the World University Games; and (d) To expand the talent pool for identifying, selecting, and recruiting elite athletes who will form the national team, be trained for international sports competitions, and potentially represent the country as future Olympians.

SEC. 4. Participation in the NTG. - To generate awareness and provide a structured

pathway to the National Tertiary Games (NTG) as a bridge between basic education sports programs and national elite competition, while ensuring the broad participation of athletes with potential for national amateur and elite levels, all higher education institutions are strongly encouraged to organize sports competitions within their

institutions and to actively recruit, train, and select athletes for participation in NTG events. Student-athletes who will form part of the delegation of the participating higher education institutions to the NTG must be duly enrolled in any HEIs in the Philippines, Filipinos by birth, or whose parents are of Filipino ancestry, or have been naturalized as Filipinos by law, and whose age must comply with the minimum age requirement based 8 on the International Standard.

SEC. 5. Sporting Events, - The sporting events that will be competed in at the

11 NTG shall be determined by the NTG Organizing Council created under Section 6 of this 12 Act: Provided, That these sporting events are aligned with the Palarong Pambansa as part of a seamless bridging program from primary to elite sporting events and aligned with Olympic-sanctioned Games such as the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), Asian Games, and Olympic Games.

SEC. 6. Creation of a National Tertiary Games Board. - To ensure the attainment

of the purposes and objectives of this Act, the National Tertiary Games Board, hereinafter referred to as the NTG Board, is hereby created. It shall serve as the policy-making body for the preparation and conduct of the NTG. The NTG Board shall be the proprietary owner of the phrase "National Tertiary Games" and its related symbols, logos, and concepts.

SEC. 7. Powers and Functions of the NTG Board. — The NTG Board shall have the

following powers and functions:

(a) To formulate plans, policies, and guidelines that shall govern the conduct of the NTG; (b) To determine the host and schedule of the NTG; (c) To coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management and other government agencies on the needed funding and technical assistance in the implementation of this Act; (d) To determine the sports to be included in the NTG based on the appropriated budget in a given year, subject to the conditions set in Section 5 hereof; (e) To develop programs and policies that shall promote the NTG and ensure multi- sectoral support to the NTG as the country's premier tertiary sports event; and (f) To exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Composition of the NTG Board. - The NTG Board shall be composed of

the following: (a) Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education - Chairperson of the Board; (b) Four (4) CHED Commissioners - Members; (c) Secretary, Department of Education (DepEd) - Member; (d) Chairperson, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) - Member; (e) Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - Member; (f) President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) - Member; (g) President of the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) - Member; (h) Two (2) representatives from the private sector who have distinguished themselves in their respective athletic programs, to be appointed by the Chairman of the NTG board from the list of nominees submitted by the Board, who shall each serve for a term of two (2) years without reappointment, - Member.

SEC. 9. Creation of a National Tertiary Games Office. - There is hereby created a

National Tertiary Sports Office, operates as an attached office of the Commission on Higher Education, under the Office of the Chairman of the CHED. It shall have the following functions: (a) Manage the conduct of the National Tertiary Games and monitor the conduct of other sports events and activities at the local, national and international levels involving students at the tertiary level; (b) Formulate and implement policies for collegiate sports aligned with CHED'S developmental goals. (c) serve as Secretariat of the National Tertiary Games. (d) Establish private partnerships to enhance collegiate sports programs and athlete opportunities.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act

shall be included in the budget of the Commission on Higher Education in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the

effectivity of this Act, the CHED, in coordination with the DepEd, DILG and PSC, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, decrees, and rules

and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,