THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SEN 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Luisa “Loi” P. Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II> Section 14 provides, ‘‘ The State recognizes the role 
of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the kndamental equality before the law of 
women and men.” In society like ours, the quality of the sexes should be an old issue not 
worthy of the slightest of the attention. But to my dismay, gender discrimination stiil 
lives. 
Sports does not only bring people together but also develops other aspects of a 
person. This is not only applictible to men but also holds true for women. There is 
substantial evidence that women and girls who participate in sports have a 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 fi-orn sex discrimination. 
Again, the 
discrimination is detrimental to the interest of women. Despite the assurance of the 
Constitution, a significant gap remains between the athletic opportunities available to 
men and the athletic opportunities avaiIabIe to women. This bill seeks to grant women 
equal sports 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. 
For a11 the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bills is earnestly requested. 
LUISA “LOP 
E J E R ~ O  
ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIREENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
’Q!i 
JUM 30 P 1 2 1  
First Regular Session 
1 
SE 
S.B. No. 
L
.
 
.- 
Introduced by Senator Luisa “Lo?‘ P. Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
GRANTING 
WOMEN 
EQUAL 
OPPORTUNITY 
TO 
ATHLETIC 
SCHOLARSHIP AND TO PRTZES OF SPORTS 
Be it emcted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the “Sports Equal 
Opportunity Act.” 
SECTION. 2. Declaration ufPulicy. - It is declared a state policy to recognize 
the role of women in nation-building, and to ensure the kndamental equality before the 
law of women and men. Sports shall not be the last bastion of sex discrimination. 
Because any kind of discrimination is repugnant to an orderly society like ours. 
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SECTION. 3. D@nitions of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms: 
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i 
(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) 
“Sports 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; 
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(C) 
“Secretary refers to the Secretary of Education, Culture and 
sports; 
@) 
(E) 
“Department” refers to the Department of Education and Sports; 
“Sports 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 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 instibutions 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. School Annual Report To Be Made Available To Students. - 
Students of the school, 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 colieges, universities or any other 
learning institutions shall fkrnish the students with a COPY of the annual report. 
SECTION 6. Spurts Prizes. - No sports event or tournament will offer or award 
a different sports 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 
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sexes. Provi&dJisrther that, the sports event or tournament is divided into male or 
female division. 
SECTION 7. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary is hereby authorized to 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act in 
accordance with its purpose(s). 
SECTION 8. Penalty. - Any violation of this Act shall be punished with a fine 
of not less than P10,OOO.OO but not more than P20,OOO.OO or imprisonment of not less 
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. Rqealing cz;arCse. 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) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
G Wslee billsll violet/athletic.scholarship 
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