Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.

Second Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 5575

Introduced by Hon, Mark Acron H. Sambar

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 2, Scetion 17 provides:

Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and
lechnology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism,
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.
Apart from the intermittent efforts of some national teams and associations, there is
no single program to address the problems that slow down sports development. There is a
need to better our sports programs on a long-term basis, These appear to come from the
public perception of sports. In the interest of sports development in the country, there is a
need to improve the existing national sports program, not only by unifying the cfforts of the
different national teams and associations, but also by a high-profile campaign encouraging, as

many Filipinos as possible to engage in sports,

With the manner sports programs are facilitated in the country, those who are well off
are the ones who have access to better instruction, training, and facilities. In a developing,
country like the Philippines, most live below the poverty level so more pressing problems
prevent them from pursuing any interest they have in sports. There is only the annual
basketball liga in different barangays which is the highlight of the sports activities for most

rural communities.


Knowing that there is no appeal in and little benefit to becoming an athlete, many
among those who are interested in sports are also content to be mere spectators on TV rather
than active participants. These spectators watch only the more fast-paced games like boxing,
volleyball and basketball. Sponsors would naturally only support the events with the most

number of followers.

“A unified sports program is one in which all the sectors of the society are given the
opportunity to participate in any sports program they choose, at whatever level appropriate
for them,” says Dr. Hercules Callanta, dean of the UP College of Human Kinetics. “The
program should allow and encourage the participation of the citizenry. This includes
spectators who wish merely to engage in sports without necessarily excelling in them or
tuming professional; older people who go into sports as recreation and diversion; the very
young who can pick up social and athletic skills through early exposure to discipline and
Vigorous play; and the financially underprivileged, who should be encouraged to pursue
‘wellness and health through physical activity.”!

With the recent success of Filipinos internationally in newer Gields like martial arts,
dragonboat racing and football, among others, now is not the time to be complacent. We have
to reassess the way we source our athletes and should therefore create a fertile ground for the
birth of our future Olympic gold medalists,

This bill seeks to establish a countryside sports development program not just to tap
the potential for athletic success of the marginalized sectors of society in the far flung areas,
but also to create a culture of love for sport and the physical wellness that goes with it.

IN. AERON H. SAMBAR
Repreyltative, Rawersa

aning Atleta Party List



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.

Second Regular Session
5575

House Bill No,

Introduced by Hon, Mark Aeron H. Sambar

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE 'OR A COUNTRYSIDE SPORTS.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shalt be known as the “Countryside Sports

Development Act of 2011.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Mis the policy of the State to give priority to

sports to foster patriotism and nationalism. accelerate social progress, and promote total

human liberation and development,

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instil health
consciousness among them.

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality und to

the strengthening of respect for sportsmanship and nationalism; and


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The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental
rights of every human being.
To this end, there is a need to improve the national sports program to start at the

grassroots level particularly those from the countryside.

SECTION 3. Sports Guidance Office. - There shall be a Sports Guidance Office
(SGO) to be established in every province. It shall be headed by an Executive Director who
shall be appointed by the Secretary of Education. The SGO shall work closely with the
governor in the development of the sports program of the province.

The SGO shall have the following functions:

(a) Develop Schoo! Sports Competition Programs within the province;

(b) Coordinate the construction of sports facilities and development of sports
equipment in the province. There shall be at least one provincial sports center in
every provinec:

(©) Conduct training programs for PE tcachers, coaches, instructors, referees/
officiating officials and trainers;

(4) Inform graduating high school students of possible sports scholarships in different
universities both here and abroad:

(€) Develop a fitness program for the residents of their province;

(Q) The SGO shall request the local television, radio and print media to disseminate
information about their activities und to encourage the local residents to engage in
sports;

(g) Work with different national sports associations to promote different kinds of

sports in their province;


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(h) Submit an annual report to Congress on the progress of the sports programs they

have instituted in the LGU.

1ON 4, Observance of National Fitness Day. - There shall be a “National

to be observed every 30" of September. The SGO shall prepare activities on a

provincial level that promote sports and health,

SECTION 5. Role of the Depariment of Education, - The Department of Education
shall emphasize the need for sports development and shall allocate at least two hours in every
week for the Physical Education subject except during examination week. It shall draft a
standard curriculum for sports in grade school and high school which will include the:
following:

{a) History of sports and differem kinds of sports including Filipino sports icons;

(b) Health and proper nutrition;

(c) It shall be designed to allow students to experience at least a minimum exposure

to the following categories of activities:
(1) aquatics,
(2) conditioning activities.
(3) gymnastics,
(4) individual/dual sports,
(5) team sports,
(6) rhythms, and
(7) dance.

Students shall be encouraged to continue to explore those activities ia which they

have a primary interest by effectively managing their community resources. A planned


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sequence of learning experiences must be designed to support a progression of student

development.

SECTION 6. Funding. - An initial appropriation of P80,000,000.00 is hereby

appropriated for this program.

SECTION 7. 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 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law. presidential decree or issuance, exceutive
order. letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent

with. the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days arter its

publication in at feast two (2) newspapers of general circulation:

Approved,