SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1332
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Senate
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FEB 14 P 4:13
RECEIVtO BY;
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Because the State recognizes the youth’s role in nation-building, it necessarily 
acknowledges its responsibility to provide opportunities to all its youth, including its 
student-athletes, or those who desire to hone their skills in sports and athletics. Sports 
and physical development are basic elements in the education and formation of the 
youth. Unfortunately, the present public and private school educational system provide 
inadequate support to the student-athlete.
Public school students have very limited options if they opt to pursue sports 
within the public education structure which is only through the Palarong Pambansa or 
the Philippine National Games that is, if they are talented enough to be recruited. In 
terms of curriculum, physical education (PE) is consolidated with music, arts, and health 
in just one academic subject that translates to less time and focus devoted to sports. In 
terms of curriculum, physical education (PE) is taught but it is consolidated with music, 
arts, and health in just one academic subject, translating to lesser time and focus 
devoted to sports.
While the Department of Education has identified one high school in each region 
as schools with a Special Program in Sports (SPS), there is no clear training program 
and selection criteria in place. The private school system, on the other hand, provides 
more opportunities for exposure in sporting activities not only because PE is treated as 
a separate academic subject, but also because of the active development of varsity 
teams that participate in inter-school leagues across the country. However, it is not 
uncommon for student-athletes in private schools to experience academic difficulties 
due to the lack of time to study and complete projects.
The Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS) will have an academic curriculum 
that will teach the needed academic skills but at the same time provide the needed time 
and support for developing the students' sports skills.
Moreover, the measure will help the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in 
training and developing future world-class national athletes, who will be better-trained.


more equipped, and adequately supported because of their holistic development within 
PHSS. The PHSS system also aims to provide the student-athletes with skills, which will 
make them employable immediately after high school.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
7
SONNY ANGARA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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*17 
FEB 14 P4:13
SENATE
S B. No. 1332
RECEIVtO BY;
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives In Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as “ The Philippine High School 
for Sports (PHSS) Act. ”
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Principles. -  The Philippine Constitution recognizes the vital 
role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, 
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It is likewise mandated that the State shall 
promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and 
amateur sports, including training for international competitions, foster self-discipline, 
teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
It is therefore declared the policy of the State to maximize the athletic abilities of 
students with the end in view of producing world-class athletes with solid academic 
background. In line with this, an educational system to foster the total development of 
the youth, with special emphasis on the enhancement and development of their skills in 
sports is hereby established.
SEC. 3. Creation and Establishm ent o f the Philippine High School for Sports. -
There is hereby created and established a national high school to be known as the 
Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS). This shall be attached to the Department of 
Education (DepEd) which shall also coordinate with the Philippine Sports Commission 
(PSC) for policy and program formulation and implementation on subjects pertaining to 
sports.
SEC. 4. Purpose o f the PHSS. -  The PHSS shall offer, on a full and partial scholarship 
basis, a secondary course with special emphasis on developing the athletic skills of the


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students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports development, with 
the end in view of preparing its students who have shown their early potential of 
excelling in sports for a sports-related career while undergoing quality secondary 
education. The Board may agree to accept paying students based on the criteria for 
eligibility for scholarships as established.
SEC. 5. Director o f the PHSS. -  The PHSS shall be headed by a Director, who shall 
serve for a period of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment. He shall be 
appointed by the Board of Trustees, as created in Section 6. The Board shall also fix his 
compensation. His functions, powers and duties, in addition to those specifically 
provided for in this law, shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of 
any high school in the Philippine educational system.
SEC. 6. Board o f Trustees. -  The exercise of the corporate powers of the PHSS is 
hereby vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, 
and in the Director, insofar as authorized by said Board, and shall serve for a period of 
three (3) years.
The PHSS shall have a Board of Trustees, which shall be composed of the 
following members: Secretary of the DepEd or his representative, the Chairperson of 
the PSC or his representative, the Director of the PHSS, one (1) representative each 
from the Senate and the House of Representatives, and four (4) representatives from 
the sports community: Provided, That the four (4) representatives from the sports 
community shall be chosen from among a list of persons qualified in the field of sports, 
as recommended by the Search Committee constituted by the Director in consultation 
with the Chairperson of the PSC, based on the normal standards and qualification for 
the position: Provided, further. That the members shall elect from among themselves 
the Chair of the Board. All members who are not receiving regular compensation from 
the government shall receive per diem per session of the Board.
SEC. 7. Powers and Functions o f the Board o f Trustees. -  The Board shall have all 
the powers and prerogatives of a Board of Directors of a private corporation. It shall also 
have the following powers, among others:
(a) To fix the site of the PHSS;
(b) To receive and appropriate for the ends herein specified such sums as may 
be provided by law for the support of the PHSS;
(c) To approve appointments made and contracts entered into by the Director in 
connection with the employment of teachers, lecturers and other employees


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of the school, to fix their compensation and other conditions of employment, 
and to remove them for cause after proper investigation:
(d) To import duty-free sports education and training books and/or publications 
upon certification by the DepEd that such imported books and/or publications 
are for sports education and training purposes in accordance with the 
provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act;
(e) To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may 
deem proper to impose, after due and comprehensive consultation with the 
students concerned;
(f) To provide and approve fellowships and training for faculty members;
(g) To approve the grant of scholarships, stipends and such other allowances to 
deserving students;
(h ) To establish the criteria for the selection and admission of students which 
shall include, among others, national competitive trials and examinations;
(i) To develop the athletic potential of every student together with a sound and 
strong academic base;
(j) To provide a training program for students with the end goal of creating 
athletes who are competitive in the national. South East Asian, Asian, and 
Olympics level;
(k) To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates 
for graduation;
(l) To solicit and receive in trust, legacies, gifts, and donations of real and 
personal property of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the 
PHSS or for aid to any of its students;
(m) To develop a curriculum that will meet the objectives of the Act; and
(n) To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its 
creation.
SEC. 8. Quorum o f the Board o f Trustees. -  A quorum of the Board shall consist of 
majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting is called.
SEC. 9. Annual Report. -  On or before the first of April of each year the Board shall 
submit to the DepEd a detailed report on the progress, condition and needs of the 
PHSS.
SEC. 10. Executive Council. -  There shall be an Executive Council consisting of the 
Director, the Assistant Director, as provided in Section 11, the heads of departments,


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


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maintenance, or for aid to any of its students shall be tax-exempt and shall be an 
allowable deduction from the gross-income of the donors.
SEC. 16. Sports High School Fund. -  All incomes and donations to the PHSS created 
under this Act shall be formed into a fund, to be known as the Sports High School Fund, 
which the PHSS shall be authorized to retain, without need of a separate approval from 
any government agency, and subject only to existing accounting and auditing rules and 
regulations. This fund shall be expended as authorized by the Board exclusively for the 
purpose of this Act.
SEC. 17. Funding. -  To carry out the purposes of this Act the amount of One Hundred 
Million Pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated and shall be made available 
from the funds of the National Treasury not othen/vise appropriated. Thereafter, this 
amount to be utilized for the expenses of the PHSS, for the purpose above described, 
shall be provided in the yearly General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 18. Additional Funding. -  Various sources of revenue shall be explored, such as 
a 
combination 
of government 
funding, 
private 
sponsorship/scholarships, 
profit 
generation, among others.
SEC. 19. Separability Clause. -  If any part or provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive order and other 
administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.
SEC. 21. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a major daily newspaper of national circulation in 
the Philippines.
Approved,