SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 8 '( 3 
'. RE('EIVEf) BV:-i 
~ 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY INCLUSION OF ANTI-OBESITY 
EDUCATION 
PROGRAM 
AND 
EXERCISE 
INCLUDING 
PLAY 
AND 
TRADITIONAL FILIPINO GAMES, IN THE PRE-SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND 
HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA, BOTH IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS 
AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Nutrition Council NNC, in celebration of the Nutrition Month this 
year focuses on addressing obesity in the country with the theme "Timbang 
Iwasto, Sa Tamang Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo" (Achieve normal weight through 
proper nutrition and physical activity). It, in fact, recognizes that "overweight and 
obesity are growing problems in the Philippines and in the world and the 
consequences lead to disease, death and economic burden" and that "proper 
nutrition and physical activity are key to preventing overweight and obesity". 
This is in response to the increasing number of Filipinos who are suffering from 
excessive weight. The 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) conducted by the 
Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) reveals that 3 out of 10. Filipino 
adults are obese. As of 2013, 31.1% of Filipinos are overweight compared to 
16.6% in 1993. 
According to the NNC, overweight and obesity among preschool children 
increased from below 2% from 1989 to 1998 to 4.9% in 2013. While the figures 
for Children 5.08 to 10 years old has decreased, the 10.08 to 19 years old age 
group registered an increase from 5.8% in 2003 to 8.3% in 2013. 
The Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity (PASOO) 
has also done several studies related to obesity among youth. One of them is 
"Physical Activity of High School Students in the City of Manila" conducted in 
2002 "to assess the physical activity of students in selected high schools in the 
city of Manila". 
The study concluded that, "A high percentage of the at-risk 
students, aged 11-18 years old, were found to be phYSically "inactive" (86%)" and 
recommended that "policies and programs be formulated that will help students 
to become more physically active than they presently are." 
According to the Talking Points prepared by the NNC for the 2015 Nutrition 
Month, "Overweight and obesity pose serious health consequences. Both are 
strongly associated with having non-communicable diseases including type 2 
diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and stroke). several forms of 
' .. , 


cancer (endometrial, breast and colon), and musculo-skeletal disorders like 
osteoarthritis. Matemal obesity has been linked to increased risk of congenital 
abnormalities. 
Consequently, these diseases are related to increased health 
care costs, and decreased productivity, premature death and substantial 
disability, and, economic retardation. Overweight and obese individuals tend to 
have reduced quality of life." 
This measure seeks to promote health and wellness of Filipino students by 
making it mandatory to include anti-obesity education program and exercise 
including play and traditional Filipino games in the educational curricula. 
For a healthier Filipino citizenry, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 8 7 3 
, ."~ftECEWEU My:-rr-.-", 
. 
. 
.. 
I 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY INCLUSION OF ANTI-OBESITY 
EDUCATION 
PROGRAM 
AND 
EXERCISE 
INCLUDING 
PLAY 
AND 
TRADITIONAL FILIPINO GAMES, IN THE PRE-SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND 
HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA, BOTH IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS 
AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Obesity 
2 
Education Program Act of 2015'. 
3 
4 
5 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
6 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
7 
them. The State likewise recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building 
8 
and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and 
9 
social well-being. 
10 
11 
In view of this, physical education and sports programs are promoted and 
12 
encouraged, not only to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence, but also 
13 
for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. 
14 
15 
16 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms when used in this Act shall 
17 
mean: 
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19 
(a) "Child" - a human between the stages of birth and puberty and below 
20 
eighteen (18) years of age; 
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22 
(b) "Department" - the Department of Education (DepEd); 
23 
24 
(c) "Institution" -
school or learning/educational facility whether public or 
25 
private; 
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27 
(d) "Secretary" - the Secretary of the Department of Education; 
28 
29 
(e) "Special Physical Education" - specially designed instruction, at no cost to 
30 
the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability; and, 
1 


1 
2 
(f) "Student" - minor duly enrolled in a learning/education institution. 
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4 
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SEC. 4. Exercise and Physical Activities / Programs. - Exercise and physical 
6 
activities / programs shall include, but are not limited to: 
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8 
(a) Fitness education and assessment to help students understand, improve, 
9 
and maintain their physical well-being; 
10 
11 
(b) Instruction in a variety of motor skills and physical activities designed to 
12 
enhance the physical, mental, social and emotional development of every 
13 
student; 
14 
15 
(c) Development of, and instruction in, cognitive concepts about motor skill 
16 
and physical fitness that support a lifelong healthy lifestyle; 
17 
18 
(d) Opportunities to develop positive and social cooperative skills through 
19 
physical activity participation; 
20 
21 
(e) Instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition; 
22 
23 
(f) Opportunities for social development [or teachers of physical education to 
24 
stay abreast of the latest research, issues, and trends in the field of 
25 
phYSical education. 
26 
27 
28 
SEC. 5. Department of Education as Implementing Agency. - The Department 
29 
of Education (DepEd) shall be the lead agency to provide rules and regulations in 
30 
relation to this Act and ensure the implementation of the same. The physical 
31 
education and sports in pre-school institutions, grade school and high school are 
32 
an integral part of the educational process and will be carried out by programs of 
33 
the Department, in coordination with the appropriate agencies, consisting of 
34 
groups from the government and non-government organizations. 
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36 
. 37 
SEC. 6. 
Physical Education Requirements. -
The following shall be the 
38 
requirements for Physical Education programs with respect to each educational 
39 
level: 
40 
41 
(a) Pre-School and Kindergarten - The program shall be designed to help 
42 
children to work and play with others, to express themselves, to learn to 
43 
use and manage their bodies, and to extend their interests and 
44 
understanding of the world around them. It shall also protect and increase 
45 
the physical well-being of the students with attention given to experiences 
46 
relating to the development of life skills and human growth and 
47 
development. 
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49 
(b) Elementary -
Physical Education instruction shall include movement 
50 
experiences and body mechanics, fitness and rhythmic activities, 
51 
increased cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and sports and 
52 
games. 
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54 
(c) High School - Physical Education shall include activities that increase 
55 
cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and flexibility, and sports and 
56 
games. 
57 
2 


1 
2 
SEC. 7. Hours of Physical Activity. - Hours of mandatory physical activity shall 
3 
be implemented in the following manner: 
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5 
(a) For Pre-School, Kindergarten and Elementary students - Two hundred 
6 
(200) minutes each ten (10) days; 
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(b) For High School students - Four hundred (400) minutes each ten (10) 
9 
days or one Hundred Fifty (150) hours of physical activity weekly with the 
10 
equivalent of thirty (30) minutes of physical activity daily. 
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13 
SEC. 8. 
Extracurricular Sports Activities. -
The schools and educational 
14 
institutions shall provide programs for continuation of sport classes after 
IS 
completion of mandatory physical education. 
16 
17 
The extracurricular sports activities of the students are voluntary and shall be 
18 
organized through the sports department as supervised by the designated 
19 
department head as appointed by the school principal or director, and shall be 
20 
conducted by professionally trained teachers and coaches. 
21 
22 
The extracurricular training and competition activities of the students is voluntary 
23 
and shall be organized by the school sport clubs, school sports departments and 
24 
teams. 
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SEC. 9. The Sports Director, Sports Department Faculty and their Qualifications. 
28 
- A Sports Director shall be appointed by the school or educational institution's 
29 
principal or director. The Sports Director shall possess the skills, knowledge, 
30 
understanding and competence necessary to effectively and safely plan, deliver 
31 
and evaluate a programme of activities to a class or group of young people in 
32 
methods approved through regular and accepted good practice. His faculty shall 
33 
be composed of qualified individuals having the experience and training, and 
34 
likewise assessed, accredited and certified to a level at which planning and 
35 
delivery of activities being undertaken may reasonably be expected to have 
36 
successful outcomes. 
37 
38 
Some aspects of physical education have a high level of risk and required 
39 
awareness and a higher duty of care is expected and should be exercised by the 
40 
physical education teachers. The standard of care required of a teacher has 
41 
been as that of a reasonably prudent parent, judged not in the context of the 
42 
home but that of a school. 
43 
44 
The teacher or coach should be appropriately qualified to teach or instruct the 
45 
activity involved and provide appropriate supervision. Teachers with a specialist 
46 
physical education qualification are regarded as being suitably qualified to teach 
47 
the majority of activities in schools. 
48 
49 
All teachers of physical education shall be adequately prepared and shall 
50 
regularly participate in professional development activities to effectively deliver 
51 
the physical education program. 
52 
53 
54 
SEC. 10. Sports Infrastructure. - The schools and educational institutions shall 
55 
create, maintain and develop necessary and suitable sport facilities and 
56 
equipment for practicing and engaging in physical activities and sports and shall 
3 


I 
provide conditions for their adequate use within the frames of the curriculum and 
2 
other extracurricular activities of physical education and sports. 
3 
4 
5 
SEC. 11. Physical Education Exemptions. - Students who are already engaged 
6 
in extracurricular physical activities sanctioned by the school or institution are 
7 
exempted from participating in the required hours of physical activity under this 
8 
Act, provided that they obtain authorization / documentation from the instructors 
9 
or coaches of their respective extracurricular activities and as approved by the 
10 
school principal/director. 
11 
12 
Students who do not fall under the criteria set in the preceding paragraph must 
13 
take at least one (1) remedial course, as provided by the Sports Director of the 
14 
school or institution. 
15 
16 
17 
SEC. 12. 
Special Physical Education. - Children with specific disabilities or 
18 
developmental delay shall also participate in Special Physical Education. This 
19 
specially designed physical education program shall be outlined in the child's 
20 
Individual Education Program (lEP). 
21 
22 
Special physical education will develop: 
23 
24 
(a) Physical and motor fitness; 
25 
26 
(b) Fundamental motor skills and patterns; 
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28 
(c) Skills in aquatics and dance; 
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30 
(d) Individual and group games; and, 
31 
32 
(e) Sports. 
33 
34 
35 
SEC. 13. 
Physical Education Program Assessment. -
All schools and 
36 
educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the Department shall administer a 
37 
Physical Education Program Assessment as approved by the Secretary. 
38 
Assessment of students in pre-school, kindergarten, elementary and high school 
39 
must be used to assess the effectiveness of the school or institution's phYSical 
40 
education program and its adherence to the rules, regulations and standards 
41 
issued by the Department. 
The Department shall develop a procedure of 
42 
calculating a school or institution's physical education program effectiveness 
43 
score. This score shall be submitted to the Department through the Secretary, 
44 
and the same to be published in a newspaper of general circulation. 
45 
46 
PhYSical education teachers who receive an unsatisfactory score pursuant to the 
47 
immediately 
preceding 
paragraph, 
will 
be 
provided 
with 
professional 
48 
development activities designed to assist the school or institution in improving its 
49 
programs' effectiveness. 
50 
51 
52 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be 
53 
found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such 
54 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
55 
56 
4 


1 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent 
2 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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5 
SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
6 
following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
5