Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 14, provides, “The State recognizes the role of 
women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of 
women and men.” In society like ours, the equality of the sexes should be an old issue 
not worthy of the slightest of attention.  
Sports does not only bring people together, it also develops other aspects of a person. 
This is not only applicable to men but also holds true for women. There is substantial 
evidence that women and girls who participate in sports have better physical and 
emotional health than women and girls who do not participate, and that participation 
in athletics can improve academic achievement. 
The field of sports was not spared from sex discrimination. Again, the discrimination is 
detrimental to the interest of women. Despite the assurances of the Constitution, a 
significant gap remains between the athletic opportunities available to men and the 
athletic opportunities available to women. This bill seeks to grant women equal sport 
opportunities with men - “to level the playing field” so to speak with regard to the 
opportunities available to women and men in the province of sports. In a wider 
perspective, this bill equips women with the capacity to play a major role in nation-
building. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 24, 2023
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
GRANTING WOMEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP 
AND TO PRIZES OF SPORTS 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representative in Congress of the Philippines 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Sports Equal Opportunity 
Act.”  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is declared a state policy to recognize the role 
of women in nation-building, and to ensure the fundamental equality before the law of 
women and men. Sport shall not be the last bastion of sex discrimination because any 
kind of discrimination is repugnant to an orderly society like ours. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A)
“Athletic scholarship program” includes all benefits derived from the program
given by the school, college, university or any other person, party or entity;
(B)
“Sport Event or tournament” means any tournament, competition, contest, race,
match, event, or game where a sport prize, as defined in paragraph (E) of this
section, is given to winners;
(C)
“Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Department of Education;
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(D)  
“Department” refers to the Department of Education; and 
 
(E)  
“Sport prize” includes awards, premiums, incentives, rewards, gifts, or anything 
given to a winner of a sport event or tournament, whether monetary or not. 
 
SECTION 4. Athletic Scholarship Program. – Schools, colleges, universities, or any 
other learning institutions shall take into account the gender of its total student 
population in granting athletic scholarship. There shall be no pro rata representation 
of women in the athletic scholarship program based on the percentage of women in 
the whole student population. 
 
The schools, colleges, universities, or any other learning institutions shall submit an 
annual report in writing to the Secretary which contains the following: 
 
(A) 
The total number of the student population; 
 
(B) 
A list of athletic scholars; and 
 
(C) 
The extent of the scholarship program given to a particular individual, including 
a summary on how much was given to a particular scholar. 
 
SECTION 5. Right to Know. – Student of the schools, colleges, universities or any 
other learning institutions shall have the right to know the information contained in the 
annual report required by the preceding section. Upon a written request from the 
students, the colleges, universities, or any other learning institutions shall furnish with 
a copy of the annual report. 
 
SECTION 6. Sports Prizes. – No sport event or tournament will offer or award a 
different sport prize, with respect to its amount or value, to women and men winners. 
Provided that, the said tournament, contest, race, match, event, or game is open to 
both sexes: Provided further that, the sport event or tournament is divided into male 
and female division. 
 


 
SECTION 7. Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Department of is hereby 
authorized to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act in accordance with its purposes. 
 
SECTION 8. Penalty. – Any violation of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not 
less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty Thousand 
Pesos (P20,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than 
three (3) months or both at the discretion of the court. If the offense is committed by a 
corporation, trust, firm, partnership or association, or other entity, the penalty shall be 
imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of such corporation, trust, firm, partnership, 
or association, or entity. 
 
SECTION 9. 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 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, 
executive 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 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,