Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 4249

Introduced by Representative Jose Enrique S. Garcia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution mandates that the State shall give priority to education science
and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. It also directs that
the State 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.

Recognizing the vital role of the youth in nation-building, the proposed creation of
High School for Sports in every region does not only seek to establish a school that
promotes sports programs like any other secondary schools in the country. It seeks to
elevate the level of sports consciousness among the youth by providing a general
secondary curriculum combined with a special curriculum on sports.

Sports is said to help the youth become better contributors to society. Research
shows that sports helps improve social interaction. It increases self-discipline and focus,
and builds skills such as teamwork, leadership, and responsibility. It strengthens
perseverance and leads to better coping skills, critical thinking, and application skills to
meet challenges in life.

The High School for Sports envisions to develop and hone the skills and
competitiveness of able and athletically inclined students to prepare them into world-class
sports competitors and trainers with suitable academic foundation.

Support for this bill is earnestly requested.
Are

REP. JOSE ENRIQUE S. GARCIA Ill
Secedd District, Bataan


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4249

Introduced by Representative Jose Enrique S. Garcia Ill

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AT LEAST ONE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS IN EVERY REGION
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Regional High School
for Sports Act of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is hereby the declared policy of the State to
promote the sustained development of young Filipinos whose skill in the field of sports
shall be encouraged and honed through education and specialized training programs.
Towards this end, the State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate,
and integrated system of education and training to advance the athletic talents and skills
among the youth and promote the growth and development of young athletes nationwide.

‘SEC. 3. Establishment of Regional High Schools for Sports - The Department of
Education (DepEd) in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is hereby
mandated to establish at least one High School for Sports, hereinafter referred to as
"Schools", in every region. The name of each School shall be determined by the
respective Governing Boards created under this Act, which shall include the name of the
city, province, or region served by the School, followed by the words “High School for
Sports.”

SEC. 4, Mandate — The Schools shall implement a general secondary curriculum
combined with a special curriculum focused on sports. The Schools shall promote the
early recognition and development of the athletic skills of students and prepare them for
sports-related careers while equipping them with suitable secondary education.

SEC. 5. Governing Councils - The Schools shall have their respective Governing
Councils to be composed of the following members:

(a) The DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction as Chairperson;
(b) The Schoo! Director as Vice Chairperson;
(c) A representative of the PSC to be designated by the PSC Chairperson;


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(d) The Governor of the province or the City Mayor of the highly urbanized or
independent city where the Schoo! is located;

(e) _ The DepEd Regional Director;

(f) The Schools Division Superintendent of the province or the highly
urbanized or independent city where the School is located;

(g) A representative elected by the members of the respective school faculty;
and

(h) Four (4) representatives from the sports community to be appointed by the
DepEd Secretary upon the recommendation of the ex officio members of
the respective Councils.

For purposes of this Act, the members identified in paragraphs (a) to (f) above
shall be ex officio members.

The faculty representative, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years, shall be
chosen in accordance with the rules and qualifications set by the faculty members of each
School.

The four (4) representatives from the sports community, who shall serve for a term
of three (3) years from the date of appointment, shall be recommended by the ex officio
members of the respective Councils from a list of at least seven (7) qualified nominees
from the region concerned duly vetted by a Search Committee constituted by the
Chairperson in consultation with the PSC based on the normal standards and
qualifications for the position. The sports representatives may be reappointed.

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Governing Councils - The respective
Governing Councils shall be the policy-making body of each School and shall exercise the
following powers and functions:

(a) Formulate policies, rules and regulations as may be necessary for the
administration and operation of the School;

(b) Approve the school budget for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act
and appropriate all sums received as may be specified by law for the
support of the School;

(c) Receive in trust all legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal
property of all kinds, and administer the same for the benefit of the School,
‘subject to the limitations, directions and instructions of the donor, if any;

(4) Fix the site of the School, acquire property on its behalf, and approve the
construction or repair of its buildings, equipment and other facilities;

(e) Approve the curricula, instructional programs and rules of discipline of the
School;

(f) Establish the criteria for the selection, admission and graduation of
students which shall include, among others, a national competitive
examination, and approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to
successful candidates for graduation;

(@) Adopt strategies for the increase of enrolment and preparation of

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purposeful campaigns to enhance the competence of the School and its
students;

(h) Approve the grant of stipend and such other allowances for deserving
students;

(i) Prescribe the qualification standards for the hiring, promotion, retention, or
renewal of appointment, and the grounds for removal of faculty members,
lecturers and other officials and employees of the School;

() Grant the members of the faculty and staff leaves of absences subject to
applicable rules and regulations, and provide fellowship grants when
available;

(k) Develop consortia and other economic linkages with local government units
(LGUs), institutions and agencies, both public and private, local and
foreign, to further the purposes and objectives of the School;

(1) Adopt modern communications technology and other innovative modes of
transmitting knowledge;

(m) Approve the importation of duty-free books and/or publications, upon
certification by the DepEd that such imported books and/or publications are
for economic, technical, vocational, scientific, philosophical, historical or
cultural purposes, in accordance with the provisions of the Customs
Modernization and Tariff Act;

(n) Perform any and all other acts incident to or necessary for the proper
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Meetings. - The Governing Councils shall convene at least once every
quarter. However, the Chairperson of each Council may, with prior written notice of at
least three days, call a maximum of two meetings in a quarter whenever necessary.

A quorum of each Council shall consist of majority of all its members holding office
at the time of the meeting; Provided, That the Chairperson of the Council or the School
Director shall be among those present in the meeting.

In the absence of the Chairperson, a duly authorized representative may attend in
his behalf with all the rights and responsibilities of a regular member: Provided, however,
That, during such meeting, the School Director, as Vice-Chairperson, shall be the
presiding officer.

The members of the Councils shall not receive any compensation but shall be
entitled to reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses incurred, either in their
attendance to meetings of the Councils or in connection with other official business
authorized by the Chairpersons, in case of the other members, and by the DepEd
Secretary, in case of the Chairpersons, subject to existing laws and regulations.

SEC. 8. School Directors. - The Schools shall have School Directors who shall
serve as the chief academic officers, heads of the school faculty, and the chief executive
officers of the Schools. Their functions, powers and duties, in addition to those specifically
provided in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to the directors of similar specialized


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high schools in the Philippines, and those which are related or necessary to their
functions.

The School Directors shall coordinate the implementation of policies and
guidelines with the Governing Councils, and shall articulate to the Councils all concerns of
the Schools. They shall render fulltime work. They shall have a term of five (5) years, and
shall be eligible for reappointment.

The School Directors shall be appointed by the DepEd Secretary, subject to the
guidelines and qualifications set forth in the implementing rules and regulations, and upon
recommendation of a Search Committee.

The Search Committee shall be constituted by the Chairpersons of the respective
Councils in consultation with the PSC representative, and the Provincial Governors or the
City Mayors, as the case may be. It shall be formed immediately upon the approval of the
implementing rules and regulations as mandated in Section 22 of this Act, and shall be
reconvened or reconstituted not later than sixty (60) days before the expiration of the
term, or the occurrence of vacancy in the office of the School Directors.

In case of vacancy in the office of a School Director by reason of death,
compulsory retirement, resignation, removal for cause or incapacity to perform the
functions of his office, the DepEd Secretary shall designate an officer-in-charge of the
School concemed within one (1) month from the date of vacancy, pending the selection
and appointment of a new School Director.

The School Director appointed to fill in the vacancy mentioned in the preceding
Paragraph shall have a fresh term of five (5) years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

The compensation of the School Directors shall be in accordance with the Revised
Compensation and Position Classification System, and shall be comparable to the
compensation being received by the heads or directors of similar specialized public high
‘schools.

The School Directors shall be assisted by Deputy Directors for Student and
Academic Affairs and Deputy Directors for Administration, who shall be appointed by the
DepEd Secretary from a list of nominees to be submitted by the Governing Councils. The
salaries of the deputy directors shall likewise be in accordance with the Revised
Compensation and Position Classification System, and shall be comparable to the
compensation being received by officers of the same level of similar specialized public
high schools.

SEC. 9. Directors for Student and Academic Affairs. - There shall be Deputy
Directors for Student and Academic Affairs who shall have the power to formulate, review,
and recommend the curricular offerings, academic policies, and rules of discipline of the
Schools for approval of the Governing Councils upon the recommendation of the School
Directors. They shall likewise have disciplinary power over the students of the Schools.

The Deputy Directors for Student and Academic Affairs shall work in consultation
with the Schools’ department heads and other ranking faculty members in developing the
curricular offerings and rules of discipline.

SEC. 10. Directors for Administration. - There shall be Deputy Directors for

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Administration who shall assist the School Directors and the Councils on policies
governing the administration, financial management and development planning of the
Schools.

SEC. 11. Admissions Boards - The Schools shall have their respective
Admissions Boards consisting of the School Directors, the Deputy Directors for Student
and Academic Affairs and for Administration, the heads of each faculty departments, and
such other ranking faculty members or officials of the Schools as may be determined by
the School Directors. The Boards shall have the power to screen and select the students
to be admitted to the Schools, and to select students who shall be recipients of stipends
and other allowances pursuant to such guidelines promulgated by the Governing
Councils.

The Admissions Boards may also propose to the Councils financial assistance
schemes and other affirmative programs to assist underprivileged students who qualify for
admission to the Schools.

No student shall be denied admission to the Schools by reason of sex, religion,
cultural or community affiliation, or ethnic origin.

SEC. 12. Position Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The position structure and
staffing pattern of the Schools shall be adopted by the Governing Councils, recommended
by the DepEd, and approved by the Department of Budget and Management. The
positions created thereunder shall be filled with regular appointments.

SEC. 13. Civil Service Coverage. - Except for visiting professors and other sports
instructors engaged by the Schools without employer-employee relationship, all personnel
of the Schools shall be subject to civil service rules and regulations on wage and position
classifications.

SEC. 14. Faculty. - No political beliefs, gender preferences, cultural or community
affiliation, ethnic origin, and religious opinion or affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the
appointment of faculty members of the Schools: Provided, That, said appointment shall be
subject to the guidelines, qualifications and/or standards set by the Governing Councils:
Provided, further, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any particular
church or religious sect.

SEC. 15. School Fund. — All government appropriations for and other income
generated by the Schools as well as all legacies, gifts, donations, grants, endowments,
contributions and other similar transfers of real and personal properties of all kinds
received by the Schools shall constitute the School Fund. The School Fund shall be
expended or used by, or with authority from, the Governing Councils, upon the
recommendation of the Schoo! Directors, to attain the purposes of this Act.

If, for reasons beyond their control, the Schools shall not be able to pursue any
project for which the funds have been appropriated and allocated under their approved
programs of expenditures, their Councils, upon the recommendation of the School
Directors, may authorize the use of said funds for any reasonable purpose which, in their
discretion, may be necessary and urgent for the attainment of the objectives and goals of
the Schools.

SEC. 16. Authority to Solicit, Receive Donations, Grants and the Like. - Upon the
authority of the Governing Councils, the School Directors may solicit, negotiate with, and
receive in trust from any public or private domestic or foreign sources legacies, gifts,

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donations, grants, endowments, contributions or other transfers of ownership and/or
possession of real or personal properties of all kinds in favor and for the benefit of the
Schools; Provided, That, the Councils shall, upon recommendation of the School Directors
and in accordance with pertinent accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations,
prescribe the measures necessary for the proper use, maintenance and safekeeping of
said donations, grants, endowments, contributions or transfers and the compliance of the
terms and conditions thereon, if any.

SEC. 17. Tax Exemptions - All legacies, gifts and donations for the benefit of the
Schools, or for their support and maintenance, or for aid to any of their students shall be
exempt from donor's tax. The same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the
gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donors, in accordance with the
provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended: Provided, That
such donations shall not be disposed of, transferred or sold by the Schools for other
purposes.

The Schools shall be exempt from taxes and duties on any equipment, books,
articles or goods they may import from abroad for their exclusive use, in accordance with
the provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The Schools shall likewise be exempt from withholding taxes on honoraria or fees
paid to visiting lecturers or professors from abroad.

Finally, all the revenues, grants, endowments, donations, contributions and assets
of the Schools actually, directly and exclusively used for educational purposes shall be
exempt from taxes and duties, subject to the conditions set forth in Article XIV, Section 4
of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

SEC. 18. Appropriation - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be sourced from the current year's appropriation of the DepEd. Thereafter,
such sum as may be necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The LGUs concerned may also provide assistance to the Schools.

SEC. 19. Development Plan, Organizational Structure ~ Within ninety (90) days
after the promulgation of the rules and regulations implementing this Act, the Schools,
through their Governing Councils, shall organize and accomplish the following:

(a) Submit five (5)-year development plans, including the corresponding program
budgets to the DepEd, for recommendation and endorsement to the DBM;
and

(o) Set up their organizational, administrative as well as academic structures,
including the appointment of the school officials, subject to the qualifications
set forth in this Act.

SEC. 20. Filing of Report — On or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the second
month after the opening of the regular classes each year, the School Directors shall file
with the Office of the President of the Philippines, through the DepEd Secretary, and with
both Houses of Congress, detailed reports on the progress, conditions and needs of the
Schools.

SEC. 21. Suppletory Application - The provisions of Republic Act No. 9155,

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otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001” shall be made an
integral part of this Act, and shall serve as part of the governing charter of the Schools in
‘suppletory character.

SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, in coordination with
the PSC shall, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate such
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 23. Separability Clause — If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 24. Repealing Clause — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 25. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.