NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 569
feenate
•22 JUL14 mM
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Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SPORTS VARSITY TEAMS IN 
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he State 
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 a healthy and alert citizenry. All educational institutions shall 
undertake regular sports activities throughout the countiy in cooperation with 
athletic clubs and other sectors. ’’
Consistent with this State policy, Republic Act No. 9155 otherwise known 
as the “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001 ” and Republic Act No. 5708 
or “The Schools Physical Education and Sports Development Act of 1969" 
provide that integrated physical education and school sports and physical 
fitness program shall remain part of the basic education curriculum and shall 
be undertaken by the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organization (UNESCO), consistent with its mandate of promoting 
interdependence among nations, “carries an ethic of living together and of 
peace - an ethic that we particularly need in these troubling times”.1
Numerous studies in the field of Educational Psychology also pointed 
out the importance of early experience or exposure in later development 
suggesting that optimal athletic skills development should commence from 
early childhood to late adulthood. Hence, to optimize the development of
1 UNESCO, International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, accessible at 
https://www.unesco.org/en/days/sport-development-and-peace-day {last accessed July 11,2022).


Filipino athletes and future champions, and to help them acquire positive values 
such as empathy and respect for others, institutionalizing varsity sports teams 
in elementary and secondary levels, especially in the public schools, becomes 
a necessity.
To this end, the Department of Education, the agency in-charge of the 
country’s basic education cycle or the K-12 system, should ensure greater 
focus on the formative years of the country’s pool of athletes. The organization 
and development of varsity sports teams in basic education, along with after­
school sports programs (ASSP), will improve the identification, selection, and 
long-term training of athletes in various sporting events.
Through a varsity system, student-athletes in K-12 will have better 
chance to play athletically at a higher level. Furthermore, an institutionalized 
varsity sports team in basic education can pave the way for the provision of 
training equipment and upkeep of modern facilities that can help improve the 
training of young athletes.
hlowever, since long-term training of student athletes is expensive, both 
public and private elementary and secondary schools are encouraged to 
network with parent-teachers associations, local governments, business 
community and other organizations to provide the much-needed assistance for 
continuous support to varsity players in schools.
The historic win of Hidilyn Diaz at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo 
brought the Philippines its first-ever Olympic gold medal. Additionally, the 
Philippine team’s performance led to the biggest medal haul since the 
Philippines entered the Olympics in 1924, with Nesthy Petecio’s and Carlo 
Paalam’s silver medals, and Eumir Marcial’s bronze medal.2 The immense 
pride due to these victories should be coupled with action, and thus, the State 
should step in and hone the potential of our next generation of student-athletes.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought to develop 
a pool of Filipino athletes and future champions.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
2 Bong Lozada, PH wraps up most successful Olympics campaign with 4 medals, August 7, 2021, 
accessible at httPs://sporl:s.inauirer.net/432836/Dh-wraps-uD-most-successful-olvmpics-campaiqn-with-4-
medals {last accessed July 8, 2022).


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
Senate
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*22 juL 14 m m
SENATE 
S.B. No.
SG9
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Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SPORTS VARSITY TEAMS IN 
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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 “Sports Varsity Teams 
in Basic Education Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of 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.
To this end, the State shall provide opportunities for optimal and long-term 
development of Filipino athletes by expanding the base of student athletes and increasing 
the time and frequency for their early exposure, training, and competition through the 
institutionalization of sports varsity teams in the basic education sector.
SEC. 3. Organization and Development of Sports Varsity Teams. - To ensure 
the optimal and long-term development of Filipino athletes, public and private elementary 
and secondary schools shall, as far as practicable, organize and develop sports varsity 
teams. The school shall endeavor to gradually expand the number of sport events that it 
holds in accordance with the school’s after-school sports program, and the interests of 
the students, coaches, and the community.
The establishment of varsity teams in traditional and indigenous games, dances, 
and sports shall also be encouraged.
SEC. 4. Organization of Sports Varsity Team. - The organization of sports 
varsity teams shall consider the following:
a. Presence of competent and committed teacher-coaches;
b. Availability of facilities and equipment;
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c. Administrative support; and
d. Support of the community.
SEC. 5. Identification of Athletes. - The Department of Education (DepEd) shall 
provide a sports varsity selection and admission system.
All K-12 learners who are officially enrolled in Elementary, Junior High School, 
Senior High School, Open High School and Alternative Learning Systems, especially 
those who participate in the after-school sports program (ASSP) and who can meet the 
following requirements, shall be able to join the school’s sports varsity teams:
a. Must have passed the physical fitness tests and skills tests;
b. With parental consent; and
c. In good academic standing.
SEC. 6. Selection and Deployment of Competent Coaches. - It shall be the 
responsibility of the school administration to secure the services of competent coaches. 
Teachers, including sports coordinators, trained in sports coaching shall be the priority in 
the selection of coaches.
Former outstanding athletes from among the parents or community residents may 
be tapped to serve as volunteer coaches in the sports where they excel and gained 
national or international recognition. Students and graduates of the Sports Track in the 
Senior High School (SHS) shall also be tapped to provide assistance in the training of 
Sports Varsity Teams.
The Sports Varsity Teams may also serve as a venue for the practicum and/or 
immersion of students in the Sports Track.
SEC. 7. Recognition and Training of Coaches. - DepEd shall create a 
mechanism to provide incentives and/or recognition to volunteer coaches.
DepEd, in consultation with the Philippine Sports Commission, National Sports 
Associations, Philippine Olympic Committee and the private sector, shall also develop 
programs to train varsity coaches to become certified trainers based on international 
standards.
SEC. 8. Time and Frequency of Training. - The implementing school has the 
discretion to determine the time and frequency of training of the varsity teams; Provided, 
That the trainings shall be conducted after the regular class hours and shall not interfere 
with relevant academic activities of the students.
SEC. 9. More Competition. - Aside from the calendar of regular sports 
competitions conducted by the DepEd, private and public schools shall organize varsity 
matches with neighboring schools. A league may be composed of public and private 
schools.
Elementary and secondary schools may also partner with existing stadiums and 
sports centers in the community to host varsity matches.


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SEC. 10. Equipment for Sports Varsity. - It shall be the responsibility of the 
school administration to secure the equipment necessary to sustain the training of sports 
varsity teams. Such equipment may be sourced from regular budget and extra-budgetary 
means, such as donations from the community.
The DepEd, in consultation with the Philippine Sports Commission, shall be 
responsible for maintaining a databank of standard facilities and equipment, their 
technical specifications, suppliers, and indicative prices of such facilities and equipment 
for every sport covered in international competitions.
SEC. 11. Performance Profiling of Student Athletes. — There shall be a school- 
based profiling of student athletes. In case a student-athlete transfers to another school, 
it shall be the responsibility of his/her former coaches to transmit his/her athletic profile to 
the new school to ensure his/her proper recognition and continuous training and 
development. The profile of the student-athlete shall show results of his/her previous 
competition/s and improvement in clocking in the case of measurable sports.
All elementary and secondary schools shall register and update their student 
athletes’ profiles from time to time.
SEC. 12. Registry of Student Athletes. - DepEd shall maintain a registry of 
student athletes and shall make this accessible to colleges and universities, Philippine 
Sports Commission, National Sports Associations, Philippine Olympic Committee and 
other private sport groups and organizations, subject to the requirements of Republic Act 
No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012. The registry shall be used 
solely for identification of potential inclusion to varsity teams in colleges and/or 
universities, or in the case of the Philippine Sports Commission, for the selection of 
national athletes who shall represent the Philippines in international sporting events.
The National Academy of Sports System, established under Republic Act No. 
11470, shall likewise have access to the registry of student athletes and may use the 
same for recruitment purposes, subject to its criteria for the selection and admission of 
students.
SEC. 13. Incentives.-The DepEd shall develop an incentives and rewards system 
for schools that have supported the organization and development of their varsity teams.
Teacher-coaches shall also be given service credits and/or additional 
compensation or overtime pay for work performed in excess of eight (8) hours in 
accordance with law.
SEC. 14. Appropriation. - The funds necessary for the institutionalization of 
sports varsity teams, especially the provision of equipment, in elementary and secondary 
schools, shall come from the regular appropriation of DepEd.
SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd Secretary and the Chairman of the Philippine Sports 
Commission, upon consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act.


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SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly.
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of this 
bill is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or provisions hereof shall remain 
in force.
SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication 
in a newspaper of general circulation.
Adopted.