FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
or THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SETi.AT~ 
S. No. ~9(S9 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provides: 
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'11 
OCT 11 P2:52 
Section 17. 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. 
Apati from the intermittent efforts of some national teams and associations, there is no 
single program to address the problems that slow down sports development. There is a need to 
better our sports programs on a long-term basis. These appear to come from the public 
perception of sports. In the interest of sports development in the country, there is a need to 
improve the existing national sports program, not only by unifying the efforts of the difterent 
national teams and associations, but also by a high-profile campaign encouraging as many 
Filipinos as possible to engage in sports. 
With the manner that sports programs are facilitated in the country, those who are well 
off are the ones who have access to better instruction, training, and facilities. In a developing 
country like the Philippines, most live below the poverty level so more pressing problems 
prevent them from pursuing any interest they have in sports. There is only the annual basketball 
/iga in different barangays which is the highlight of the sports activities for most rural 
communities. 
Knowing that only a few sports are financially rewarding (i. e. professional basketball), 
many among those who are interested in sports are content (0 play occasionally or remain 
spectators rather than turn full time athletes. Sponsors would naturally only support the events 
with the most number of followers. 
"A unified spOlis program is one in which all the sectors of the society are given the 
opportlmity to patiicipate in any spotis program they choose, at whatever level appropriate for 
them," says Dr. Hercules Callanta, dean of the UP College of Human Kinetics. "The program 
should allow and encourage the participation of the citizenry. This includes spectators who wish 
merely to engage in sports without necessarily excelling in them or turning professional; older 
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people who go into sports as recreation and diversion; the very young who can pick up social and 
athletic skills through early exposure to discipline and vigorous play; and the financially 
underprivileged, who should be encouraged to pursue wellness and health through physical 
acti vi ty."l 
With the recent international success of Filipinos in newer fields like martial arts, 
dragonboat racing and football, now is not the time to be complacent. We have to reassess the 
way we source our athletes and should therefore create a fertile ground for the birth of our future 
Olympic gold medalists. 
This bill seeks to establish a countryside sports development progran1 not just to tap the 
potential for athletic success of the marginalized sectors of society in the far flung areas, but also 
to create a culture of love for sport and the physical wellness that goes with it. 
I http://www.up.edu.ph/upforum. php?issue~25&i~ 190 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'11 
OCT 11 
P 2 :52 
SENATE 
S. No. 2989 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO PROVIDE FOR A COUNTRYSIDE SPORTS 
3 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
5 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Countryside Sports 
7 
Development Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to sports 
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to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human 
10 
liberation and development. 
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The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instil health 
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consciousness among them. 
13 
Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the 
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strengthening of respect for sportsmanship and nationalism; and 
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The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental 
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rights of every human being. 
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To this end, there is a need to improve the national sports program to start at the 
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grassroots level particularly those from the countryside. 
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SECTION 3. Sports Guidance Office. - There shall be a Sports Guidance Office (SaO) 
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to be established in every province. It shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be 
21 
appointed by the Secretary of Education. The SGO shall work closely with the governor in the 
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development of the sports program of the province. 
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The sao shall have the following functions: 
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(a) Develop School Sports Competition Programs within the province; 
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(b) Coordinate the construction of sports facilities and development of sports equipment 
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in the province. There shall be at least one provincial sports center in every province; 
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(c) Conduct training programs for PE teachers, coaches, instructors, referees! officiating 
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officials and trainers; 
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(d) Inform graduating high school students of possible sports scholarships in different 
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universities both here and abroad; 
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(e) Develop a fitness program for the residents oftheirprovince; 
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(f) The SGO shall request the local television, radio and print media to disseminate 
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information about their activities and to encourage the local residents to engage in 
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sports; 
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(g) Work with different national sports associations to promote different kinds of sports 
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in their province; 
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(h) Submit an annual report to Congress on the progress of the sports programs they have 
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instituted in the LGU. 
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SECTION 4. Observance of National Fitness Day. - There shall be a "National Fitness 
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Day" to be observed every 30th of September. The SGO shall prepare activities on a provincial 
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level that promote sports and health. 
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SECTION 5. Role of the Department of Education. - The Department of Education shall 
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emphasize the need for sports development and shall allocate at least two hours in every week 
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for the Physical Education subject except during examination week. It shall draft a standard 
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curriculum for sports in grade school and high school which will include the following: 
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(a) History of spOlis and different kinds of spOlis including Filipino spOlis icons; 
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(b) Health and proper nutrition; 
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(c) It shall be designed to allow students to experience at least a minimum exposure to 
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the following categories of activities: 
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(1) aquatics, 
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(2) conditioning activities, 
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(3) gymnastics, 
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(4) individual/dual sports, 
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(5) team sports, 
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(6) rhythms, and 
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(7) dance. 
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Students shall be encouraged to continue to explore those activities in which they have a 
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primary interest by effectively managing their community resources. A planned sequence of 
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learning experiences must be designed to support a progression of student development. 
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SECTION 6. Funding. -
An initial appropriation of PSO,OOO,OOO.OO is hereby 
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appropriated for this program. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION S. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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