FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 
.i!i. 
-2. P G :I 3 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 5 4 9 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY 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 fundamental 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 is still prevalent. 
Sports does not only bring people together but also develops other 
aspects of a person. This is not only applicable to men but holds true for women. 
There is substantial evidence that females who participate in sports have a better 
physical and emotional health than females who do not participate, and that 
participation in athletics can improve academic achievement. 
The field of sports has not been spared from 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 available 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 all the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bills is earnestly 
requested. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
1 
7 JUL -2 P6 3 3  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
GRANTING WOMEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP 
AND TO PRIZES OF SPORTS 
Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Represenfafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Sports Equal 
Opportunity Act.” 
SEC 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. 
SEC 3. Definitions of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the terms: 
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; 
c) “Secretary refers to the Secretary of Education; 
d) “Department” refers to the Department of Education; 
e) “Sports prize” includes awards, premiums, incentives, rewards, gifts or 
anything given to a winner of a sport event or tournament, whether 
monetary or not. 
SEC4. 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 institutions shall 
(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. 
submit an annual report in writing to the Secretary which contains the following: 
SEC 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 
colleges, universities or any other learning institutions shall furnish the students 
with a copy of the annual report. 
SEC 6. Sports 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 sexes. Provided Further, That, the sports event or 
tournament is divided into male or female division. 
SEC 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). 
SEC 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. 
SEC 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. 
SEC I O .  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. 
SEC 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,