EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No.
. 
c ! . '
'19 
JUL 16 A 8 56
RLCi-. 
L;
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the policy of the State to "recognize the vital role of the youth in nation­
building" and to "promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and 
social well-being."
The Philippines has a pool of talented youth who have great potential in the field 
of sports. However, due to financial constraints, these talented youth are unable to fulfill 
their dreams of bringing home the gold for our country.
At present, there are no opportunities to obtain quality education with emphasis 
on sports development. It is therefore the objective of this bill to create and establish a 
national high school for sports which will give the impoverished yet talented youth the 
opportunity to develop and cultivate their talents, skills and knowledge in their preferred 
sport. It is also with the establishment of this high school for sports that we can finally 
get a gold medal in the Olympics as our talented athletes will not just be adequately 
trained but more importantly developed and prepared for international sporting events.
It is for these reasons that the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
f'.;r (•{ < if
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
5
*19 
JUL 16 A 8 56
rG6
Rr:,’
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in Congress 
assembled.
1 
Section 1. Short tide. -  This Act shall be known as "The Philippine High School
2 
for Sports (PHSS) Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Principles. -  The Philippine Constitution recognizes the vital
4 
role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral,
5 
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. The State is likewise mandated to promote
6 
physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur
7 
sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline,
8 
teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
9 
It is therefore declared the policy of the State to maximize the athletic abilities of
10 
students to produce world-class athletes with solid academic background. In line with
11 
this, an educational system to foster the total development of the youth, with special
12 
emphasis on the enhancement and development of their skills in sports, is hereby
13 
established.
14 
Sec. 3. Creation and Establishment o f the Philippine High School for Sports. -
15 
There is hereby established a Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS). The PHSS shall
16 
serve as the premier training center to develop the athletic talent of students with the
17 
end in view of preparing those who have shown potential of excelling in sports to
18 
become part of the Philippine National Athletes Pool.
19 
In compliance with Republic Act No. 10533 or the "Enhanced Basic Education Act
20 
of 2013", the PHSS shall at the same time, provide its students with quality secondary
1


1 
education in their chosen track, which shall not be limited to the sports track. The
2 
establishment of the PHSS shall likewise not prejudice the creation of other high school
3 
for sports in different cities, municipalities, and provinces all over the country.
4 
Sec. 4. Purpose o f the PHSS. -  The PHSS shall offer, on a full or partial
5 
scholarship basis, a secondary course with special emphasis on developing the athletic
6 
skills of the students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports
7 
development, with the objective of preparing its students, who have shown their early
8 
potential of excelling in sports, for a sports-related career, while undergoing quality
9 
secondary education. The Board of Trustees may agree to accept paying students based
10 
on the criteria for eligibility for scholarships as established.
11 
Sec. 5. Director o f the PHSS. -  The PHSS shall be headed by a Director, who
12 
shall serve for a period of eight (8) years. He shall be appointed by the Board of
13 
Trustees, as created in Section 6. The Board of Trustees shall fix the Director's
14 
compensation. His functions, powers and duties, in addition to those specifically
15 
provided for in this law, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of
16 
any high school in the Philippine educational system.
17 
Sec. 6. Board o f Trustees. -  The exercise of the corporate powers of the PHSS is
18 
hereby vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board,
19 
and in the Director, insofar as authorized by said Board.
20 
The PHSS shall have a Board, which shall be composed of the Secretary of the
21 
Department of Education (DepEd) as Chair, the Chairperson of the Philippine Sports
22 
Commission (PSC) as Vice Chair, and the following members: the Director of the PHSS,
23 
one (1) representative each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, and
24 
four (4) representatives from accredited national sports associations to be nominated by
25 
the different sports associations and appointed by the Chairperson of the Board:
26 
Provided, That there should always be a representative from track and field and aquatic
27 
sports. All members who are not receiving regular compensation from the government
28 
shall receive per diem per session of the Board.
29 
Sec. 7. Powers and Functions o f the Board o f Trustees. -  The Board shall have all
30 
the powers and prerogatives of a board of directors of a private corporation. It shall also
31 
have the following powers, among others:
32 
(a) To fix the site of the PHSS;


1 
(b) To receive and appropriate, for the ends herein specified, such sums as may
2 
be provided by law for the support of the PHSS;
3 
(c) To approve appointments made, and contracts entered into, by the Director
4 
in connection with the employment of teachers, lecturers, and other employees
5 
of the school, to fix their compensation and other conditions of employment, and
6 
to remove them for cause after proper investigation;
7 
(d) To provide and approve fellowships and trainings for faculty members;
8 
(e) To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may
9 
deem proper to impose, after due and comprehensive consultation with the
10 
students concerned;
11 
(f) To approve the grant of scholarships, stipends, and such other allowances to
12 
deserving students;
13 
(g) To establish the criteria for the selection and admission of students which
14 
shall include, among others, national competitive trials and examinations;
15 
(h) To develop the athletic potential of every student together with a sound and
16 
strong academic base;
17 
(i) To provide a training program for students with the end goal of creating
18 
athletes who are competitive in the national. South East Asian, Asian, and
19 
Olympics levels;
20 
(j) To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates
21 
for graduation;
22 
(k) To receive, in trust, legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal
23 
property of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the PHSS or
24 
for aid to any of its students; and
25 
(I) To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its
26 
creation.
27 
Sec. 8. Quorum o f the Board o f Trustees. -  A quorum of the Board shall consist
28 
of majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting is called.
29 
Sec. 9. Annual Report. -  On or before the first of April of each year, the Board of
30 
Trustees shall submit to the President of the Philippines a detailed report on the
31 
progress, condition, and needs of the PHSS.
32 
Sec. 10. Executive Council. -  There shall be an Executive Council consisting of
33 
the Director, the Assistant Director, as provided in Section 11, the heads of


1 
departments, and such other ranking faculty members or officials of the PHSS, as may
2 
be determined by the Board.
3 
The Council shall have the power to screen and select the students subject for
4 
admission, to select students who shall be recipients of scholarships, stipends and other
5 
allowances, and to develop the curricula, course or study, and rules of discipline. The
6 
Council shall implement and execute the policies laid down by the Board and exercise
7 
such other functions, powers, and duties as the Board may prescribe.
8 
Sec. 11. Assistant Director o f the PHSS. -  There shall be an Assistant Director
9 
who shall assist the Director. In the absence of the Director, he shall assume the
10 
administrative and supervisory functions of the Director. He shall be appointed by the
11 
Chairperson of the Board subject to the approval of the same Board, which shall also fix
12 
his compensation.
13 
Sec. 12. Registrar o f the PHSS. -There shall be a Registrar of the School who
14 
shall also act as Secretary of the Board, to be appointed by the Director with the
15 
approval of the Board. He shall keep all records of the PHSS.
16 
Sec. 13. Treasurer o f the PHSS. -  There shall be a Treasurer of the PHSS who
17 
shall be appointed by the Director, with the approval of the Board.
18 
All accounts and expenses of the PHSS are public in nature, and shall be subject
19 
to auditing by the Commission on Audit (COA).
20 
Sec. 14. Tax Exemptions o f the PHSS. -  The PHSS shall be exempt from payment
21 
of all taxes, fees, assessments, and other charges of the Government, its branches and
22 
subdivisions.
23 
It shall likewise be exempt from the payment of customs duties, taxes, and tariffs
24 
on the importation of sportswear, equipment, books, supplies, instruments, materials
25 
and goods, including those donated to the PHSS: Provided, That these are of
26 
international sports standards and are not available from local manufacturers: Provided,
27 
further. That the importation shall only be in such numbers as may be required in the
28 
development of various sports and/or training of the students.
29 
The PHSS shall also be exempt from withholding taxes on the honoraria or fees
30 
paid by the PHSS to visiting lecturers or professors from abroad.
31 
Sec. 15. Tax Deduction or Exemption o f Donations and Contributions. -  All
32 
legacies, gifts, and donations for the benefit of the PHSS, or for its support and


1 
maintenance, or for aid to any of its students shall be tax-exempt and shall be an
2 
allowable deduction from the gross-income of the donors.
3 
Sec. 16. Sports High School Fund. -  All incomes and donations to the PHSS
4 
created under this Act shall be formed into a fund, to be known as the Sports High
5 
School Fund, which the PHSS shall be authorized to retain, without need of a separate
6 
approval from any government agency, and subject only to existing accounting and
7 
auditing rules and regulations. This fund shall be expended as authorized by the Board
8 
exclusively for the purpose of this Act.
9 
Sec. 17. Funding. -  To carry out the purposes of this Act the amount of One
10 
Hundred Million Pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated and shall be made
11 
available from the funds of the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
12 
Thereafter, this amount to be utilized for the expenses of the PHSS, for the purpose
13 
above described shall be provided in the yearly General Appropriation Act.
14 
Sec. 18. Separability Clause. -  If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
15 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall
16 
continue to be in full force and effect.
17 
Sec. 19. Repealing Clause. -  All other laws, decrees, executive order and other
18 
administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of
19 
this Act are hereby modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.
20 
Sec. 20. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a major daily newspaper of national circulation in
22 
the Philippines.
Approved,