FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
Second Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 11 provides that: 
SEC. 11. The State shall adopt and integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
people at affordable cost. There shall be a priority for the needs of 
the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. 
The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
Our education system, despite of the increasing amount of appropriation per year, has 
always found itself short of necessary funds to serve its mandate and provide a competitive level 
of education especially in the elementary and secondary level. Due to this, many schools find 
themselves having to prioritize needs to make sure that the funds will be available to high- 
priority subjects such as languages, mathematics and science and technology. Physical education 
has always been among the bottom items in terms of priority. 
However, it is still an important aspect of our human development. Physical fitness has 
been identified by countless researches as one of the factors that prevent various illnesses and 
increase the quality of life in general. Our public school system is the best way of teaching our 
children the value of health and physical fitness. By showing that we value the well being of our 
students, we not only instill on them the healthy habit of exercise but also invest in the future 
health of our next generation. 
This bill seeks to establish through the Department of Health a healthy standard for 
physical activities which shall be taught and implemented through our public school system. 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
S 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
1s 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Physical Education Standard 
Act of 2008.” 
SECTION 2. Physical Education Standards in Schools. - The Secretary of Education 
(Secretary), in collaboration with the Department of Health, shall ensure that local educational 
agencies that receive government funds establish and implement policies to ensure that students 
participate in physical education programs that meet standards for physical activity issued by the 
Department of Health in accordance with Section 8. 
SECTION 3. Grunts. - The Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to 
eligible entities to support activities that provide teacher training, and provide the support needed 
to implement physical education programs that meet the standards described in Section 9. 
SECTION 4. Eligibility. - Only public elementary and secondary schools shall be eligible 
under this grant. 
SECTION 5 .  Application. - To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
agreements, assurances, and other information as the Secretary may require. 
1 


I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
SECTION 6. Priority. -In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give 
priority to eligible entities submitting applications proposing to provide training and support for 
programs for students from populations at high risk for sedentary activity and low-income 
populations. 
SECTION 7. Evaluation. - Not later than 3 years after the date on which a grant is 
awarded to an eligible entity under this subsection, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a 
report that describes the activities canied out with funds received through the grant and the 
effectiveness of such activities in ensuring students meet the standards described in Section 8. 
SECTION 8. Standards for Physical Activities. - Not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Department of Health shall issue standards for physical activities 
applicable to defined population groups based on their physical activity needs. The Department 
of Health shall provide a copy of this report to the Secretary of Education and the appropriate 
committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
SECTION 9. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
SECTION 10. 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 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
iapml10608 
2