Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 4492

Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The State recognizes the role of the youth in nation-building, and also the importance of sports in the
betterment of lives of Filipinos, as enshrined in Sections 13 and 17 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution of
the Philippines, to wit:

Section 13. The State 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
shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs.

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.

Grassroots development of sports in the country, however, is woefully lacking. The country, time and
again, erupts in unison to celebrate the sports achievements of our homegrown athletes who brought
home laurels for the Philippines despite the lack of a sustained sports development program. Our country
is home to world champions in boxing, bowling, swimming, shooting, and wushu, among others. The
present public and private school educational system provide inadequate support to the gifted student-

ile the Department
high schoo! in each region as schools with a Special Program in Sports (SPS), there is no clear training
program and selection criteria in place in public schools.

On the other hand, the private school system provides more opportunities for exposure in sporting
Fee gp org
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.

Thus, the time is ripe to discover and nurture these athletes and other potentially gifted athletes and
provide adequate support for them by endowing them with sustained training and support starting at the
Nigh schoo! evel. The development of grassron sports n he court is ong overdue. in order tobe able

internationally on a sustained level in different sports, a basic education program is needed
thats foouced ned speciltzed for te youth who have tho ite and potenti

This bill aims to establish and maintain a high school for student-athletes. The Philippine High Schoo! for
Sports (PHSS) will offer, on a scholarship basis, a secondary course with special emphasis on developing
the athletic skills of the students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports
development. This will enable student-athletes to gain quality secondary education while ensuring
‘opportunities for their continued training, exposure, and participation in relevant sports competitions.
Moreover, the measure will help the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in training and developing
future world-class national athletes, who will have improved training, better equipment, and adequate
‘support 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.

For the foregoing reasons, the immediate passage of this measure is sought.

Le JAY Q. VELASCO


18

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manita

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4492

Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

AN ACT CREATING AND ESTABLISHING A
PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS (PHSS) SYSTEM
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Philippine High School
for Sports (PHSS) System Act of 2019.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — 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 intemational 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. Objectives. — In implementing the foregoing policy, the State shall pursue
the following objectives:
(a) Integrate all PHSS campuses into one system of governance and
management;
(b) Ensure uniformity in quality standards and systematize operations of schools
under the PHSS System; and
(c) Rationalize the establishment of PHSS campuses in Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao.


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Sec. 4. Creation and Establishment of the Philippine High School for Sports
(PHSS) System. — 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.

In order to ensure that every Filipino in the country will be given the opportunity
to receive sports training and development from PHSS and to maximize the potential of
PHSS to deliver quality sports development in alll regions in the country, at least one (1)
PHSS campus shall be operational and shall be maintained in Luzon, in Visayas and in
Mindanao.

Sec. 5. Purpose of 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 students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports
development, with the end in view of preparing its students who have shown early
potential of excelling in certain sports for a sports-related career while undergoing
quality secondary education. The Board of Trustees may agree to accept paying
students based on the criteria for eligibility for scholarships as established.

Sec. 6. Overall Coordinating Authority. — The PHSS System shalll be under the
administrative supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd) in coordination with
the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

SEC. 7. Executive Director of the PHSS. -— The PHSS shall have an Executive
Director (ED), who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees mentioned in Section 11
of this Act. The ED shall be conferred the rank equivalent to a bureau director with a
fixed term of four (4) years and shall be eligible for reappointment. The Board of
Trustees shall fix the compensation of the Executive Director.

The ED shalll coordinate the implementation of policies and guidelines set by the
Board of Trustees. As a member of the Board of Trustees, the ED shall articulate to the
Board the mutual concem of all the campuses.

SEC. 8. Roles and Functions of the Executive Director. — The ED shall perform
the following roles and functions:
(a) Coordinate curriculum planning activities for the PHSS System;
(b) Provide legal and technical support to the members of the System;


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(c) Coordinate exchange programs with other educational institutions both local and
foreign;
(d) Develop and coordinate linkages and networking among the campuses of the
PHSS System with other institutions;
(e) Coordinate the implementation of the program for the identification and selection
of scholars for the PHSS System;
(f) Provide for the secretariat services of the Board of Trustees;
(g) Perform other functions as may be deemed necessary.
For the efficient and effective implementation of the foregoing functions, the ED shall be
provided with a staff.

Sec. 9. Campus Director (CD). - Each school campus shall be headed by a
Campus Director who shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees, upon
recommendation of the Executive Director on the basis of a search process. The CD
shall have a fixed term of four (4) years, renewable for another term at the option of the
Board. The CD shall not be removed from office except for cause.

The CD shall be the administrative and academic head of his or her campus and
will be responsible for its smooth operations. Each CD will handle the development of
his or her own campus’ curriculum taking into consideration the unique talents and skills
of the students in their region. Said curriculum must ultimately meet the objectives of
this Act. The CD may constitute a consultative body which may act as a citizen's arm to
interpret the educational needs of the service area of the campus.

Sec. 10. Executive Committee. - An Executive Committee (ExeCom) shall be
established and shall be composed of the Executive Director and the Campus Directors
in the PHSS System as members. The committee shall be collegial in character.

The ExeCom shall meet quarterly to ensure that all policies, programs and
guidelines of the PHSS are being implemented judiciously in each school campus.
During the meeting of the ExeCom, each Campus Director shall confer the concerns of
their own campus to the Executive Director for consultation and resolution.

Sec. 11. Board of 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 Executive Director, insofar as authorized by said Board. The officials
and members of the Board shalll serve for a period of four (4) years.

The PHSS shall have a Board of Trustees, which shall be composed of the
following members: Secretary of the DepEd or his representative, as ex-officio
Chairperson of the Board, Chairperson of the PSC or his representative as ex-officio


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Vice Chairperson of the Board. The following shall be members of the Board: the
Executive Director of the PHSS, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Youth and
Sports Development, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, and three (3)
representatives from the sports community of known expertise, integrity and probity:
Provided, That each istand group of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao shall have one (1)
sports community representative sitting in the Board; Provided further, That each
representative from the sports community shall be chosen from among a list of persons
qualified in the field of sports, as recommended by each Regional Search Committee for
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Each Regional Search Committee shall be constituted
by each Campus Director, in consultation with the Chairperson of the PSC, based on
the normal standards and qualification for the position.

All members of the Board who are not receiving regular compensation from the
government shall receive per diem per session of the Board.

‘Sec. 12. Powers and Functions of the Board of 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 situs of PHSS campuses in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao;

(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 each Campus
Director in connection with the employment of teachers, lecturers and other
employees 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 Modemization 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 each
Campus Director and 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, as recommended by each Campus Director,

(h) To establish the criteria, taking into consideration the recommendation of each
Campus Director, for the selection and admission of students which shall include,
among others, national competitive trials and examinations;


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(i) To develop the athletic potential of every student together with a sound and
strong academic base;

() To provide a training program for students with the end goal of creating athletes
who are competitive in the national, Southeast Asian, Asian, and Olympic level;

(k) To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates for
graduation, as recommended by each Campus Director;

() 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 entire PHSS
‘System, or for aid to any of its students;

(m) To perform any and all other acts incident to or required by virtue of its creation.

Sec. 13. Quorum of the Board of Trustees. — A quorum of the Board shall consist
of the majority of all the members holding office at the time the meeting is callled.

Sec. 14. Annual Report. — On or before the first of April of each year, the Board
shall submit to DepEd a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs of the
PHSS.

Sec. 15. Registrars. - Each PHSS campus shall have its own Campus Registrar,
which shall be appointed by each Campus Director with the approval of the Board. Each
Campus Registrar shall keep all records pertaining to his school campus.

The Executive Director shall appoint the Registrar of the Board of Trustees, with
prior approval from the Board itself. The Registrar of the Board shalll perform the role of
the Board's Secretary and shall take care of all its records.

Sec. 16. Treasurers. — Each campus shall have one (1) Campus Treasurer,
which shall be appointed by each Campus Director with the approval of the Board.

The Executive Director shalll also appoint a Treasurer-General (TG) for the entire
PHSS System, with prior approval from the Board of Trustees. The TG shall be
responsible for all accounts and expenses of the PHSS, including that of its Board of
Trustees. All accounts and expenses of the PHSS are public in nature, and shall be
subject to auditing by the Commission on Audit (COA). The TG shall regularly
coordinate with every Campus Treasurer for appropriate reporting and collection of
information.

To ensure the full satisfaction of his or her functions, the TG shall be provided
with a staff.


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Sec. 17. Tax Exemptions of the PHSS. — The PHSS shall be exempt from
payment of all taxes, fees, assessments, and other charges of the Goverment, 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 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. 18. Tax Deduction or Exemption of Donations and Contributions. — All
legacies, gifts, and donations for the benefit of the PHSS, or for its support and
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. 19. Sports High School Fund. — All incomes of, 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. 20. Funding. — To carry out the purposes of this Act, the amount of One
Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated and shall be made
available from the funds of the National Treasury not otherwise 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. 21. Additional Funding. — Various sources of revenue shall be explored,
such as a combination of government funding, private sponsorship/scholarships, profit
generation, among others.

Sec. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board of Trustees shall
formulate the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the implementation of this
Act.


Sec. 23. Separability Clause. — \f 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. 24. 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. 25. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in

the Philippines.

Approved,