Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8038

Introduced by REP. FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution recognizes the role of sports in fostering nationalism, social
transformation and human development (Section 17, Article If). In his speech during the
opening ceremony of the 2018 Palarong Pambansa, President Rodrigo Duterte echoed this
notion and told student-athletes that competing in the Palaro beckons “the beginning of your
greater participation in nation-building.” “Your ability to balance academics and other interests
measures your aptitude for skills such as multi-tasking, time management and decision-making
~ skills that you will need as you take on greater responsibilities in the future,” the President
said.

Indeed, the discipline and diligence that balancing academics and athletics requires and instills
in the youth prepare them for a successful career as athletes or sports and fitness professionals,
It is critical therefore to provide an enabling environment for young Filipinos with athletic
potential to develop the skills and values necessary to become great athletes who bring honor
to our country.

The recently signed Republic Act No. 11470 provides for this enabling environment, creating
the National Academy of Sports (NAS) System to establish high school campuses around the
country with world-class sports facilities offering free education and training for student-
athletes. The flagship campus will be located in the New Clark City Sports Complex in Tarlac,
the site of the 30" Southeast Asian Games last year.

The next NAS campus to rise should be in the Visayas. And there is no better location for a
high school for sports in Visayas than Negros Occidental.

Negros Occidental is hosting the Palarong Pambansa for the sixth time in 2021, holding the
record of hosting the most number of Palaro events.” Negros Occidental athletes have also
made a name for themselves in international and national sports competitions.

Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, a native of Bago City, Negros Occidental, eared the country a
silver medal in boxing in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, while his elder brother Roel had
won a bronze medal also in boxing in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

Athletes from Negros Occidental, led by 2016 Rio Olympian Roden Ladon (also a Bago City
native), also scored medals in the 30" SEA Games. Ladon had won a silver medal in the 2018

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‘Asian Games in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Sander Severino from Silay City won two golds in
chess in the 2018 Asian Para Games hosted also by Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Negrosanon student-athletes have shined in the Palarong Pambansa. In the 2019
Palarong Pambansa, Bacolod City’s Trexie dela Torre and Jamela de Asis set new record highs
in long jump and shot put, respectively, and Silay’s Alexi Cabayaran broke a five-year record
in swimming (200-meter freestyle).’ Negros Occidental is consistently among top performing
provinces in the Palaro; in 2019, Negrosanon athletes bagged a total of 79 medals — 28 gold,
17 silver, and 34 bronze medals.

An NAS campus in Negros Occidental will cultivate the talent of young Negrosanons to
become accomplished professional athletes and raise Filipino pride. But perhaps more
importantly, a dedicated sports program, with a strong values formation component, will divert
young people from vices that would otherwise occupy their time and attention.

In view of the foregoing, the enactment of this measure is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8036

Introduced by REP. FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
ENRIQUE B. MAGALONA, PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL TO BE
KNOWN AS THE NEGROS OCCIDENTAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Establishment of the Negros Occidental High School for Sports. —
There is hereby established a high school for sports in the Municipality of Enrique B.
Magalona, Province of Negros Occidental to be known as the “Negros Occidental High School
for Sports,” hereinafter referred to as the “School”.

The School shall be integrated into the National Academy of Sports (NAS) System and
supervised by the Department of Education (DepEd), in close coordination with the Philippine
Sports Commission (PSC), subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 11470.

SEC. 2. Objectives. — The School shall offer a special secondary education curriculum
to develop the skills of talented youth in different sports, and produce successful athletes and
sports and fitness professionals. The School shall instill discipline, diligence, teamwork,
excellence and integrity in its students.

SEC 3. Admission, — Notwithstanding the provision of Section 8 (i) of Republic Act No.
11470, no student shall be admitted to the School unless he/she is a bona fide resident of the
Province of Negros Occidental.

SEC. 4. Academics-Athletics Balance. To ensure both academic and athletic excellence
of student athletes, the School shall:

a) adopt flexible learning methods;
b) grant stipends, allowances and other financial assistance; and,
c) provide mentoring and mental health support.

SEC. 5. School Director. The School shall be headed by a School Director who shall be
appointed by the Board of Trustees of the NAS System. The Board shall determine the term
and compensation of the School Director, pursuant to Section 8 (4) of Republic Act No. 11470

The School Director shall be responsible for the administration and operation of the School,


and perform the functions determined by the Board. The School Director may create
consultative bodies to provide guidance in the formulation of policies and activities of the
School.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. The initial funding for the operations of the School shall be
charged against the current appropriations of DepEd. Thereafter, the amount needed for the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education, in
coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission and other stakeholders, shall issue the
implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
hereof.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,