Surigao del Norte congressman Robert Ace Barbers said in a radio interview on Saturday that renowned national athletes can be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani if his bill gets passed into a law. Barbers said should House Bill 3716 or "An Act Allowing the Interment of Filipino Sports Heroes at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani" said should the bill be passed, a committee composed of officials from the government and private sectors to deliberate which athletes will be given the honor to be buried in the hallowed grounds of heroes."

Barbers issued the bill last year following the death of former Asia's sprint queen Lydia de Vega.

"A committee will be formed to nominate which sports hero will be buried and it will be multi-sector. The objective is to give them a chance to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani if their families would want it," Barbers said.

Currently, those allowed to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani are former presidents, former soldiers, war veterans, officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Artists.

While the bill is still pending in the House of Representatives, Barbers remains optimistic that it will be made into law.

"I hope that before the 19th Congress ends, the bill will be passed. I believe the majority of the members of Lower House agree to this," Barbers said.