SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
rr of nc
SENATE
S. B. NO.1615
•17 NOV 20 AlO ‘34
-
 - +
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SPORTS VARSITY TEAMS IN 
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he 
State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, 
league competitions, and amateur sports, Including training for international 
competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the 
development of a healthy and alert citizenry. All educational institutions shall 
undertake regular sports activities throughout the country in cooperation with 
athletic clubs and other sectors. ”
Republic Act No. 9155 otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic 
Education Act of 2001” and Republic Act No. 5708 or “The Schools Physical 
Education and Sports Development Act of 1969" also provide that integrated 
physical education and school sports and physical fitness program shall 
remain part of the basic education curriculum and shall be undertaken by the 
Department of Education.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
(UNESCO), consistent with its mandate of promoting interdependence among 
nations, has also identified the practice of sports as an instrument for 
promoting peace and as a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and 
networks.1
Numerous studies in the field of Educational Psychology also pointed 
out the importance of early experience or exposure in later development 
suggesting that optimal athletic skills development should commence from
1 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/physical-education-and-spor1/sport-
for-peace-and-development/ (accessed on October 19, 2017)


early childhood to late adulthood. Hence, to optimize the development of 
Filipino athletes and future champions and to help them acquire positive 
values such as empathy and respect for others, institutionalizing varsity sports 
teams in elementary and secondary levels, especially in the public schools, 
becomes a necessity.
The Department of Education, the agency in charge of the country’s 
basic education cycle or the K-12 system, should ensure greater focus to the 
formative years of the country’s pool of athletes. The institutionalization of 
varsity sports teams in basic education, along with after-school sports 
programs (ASSP), will improve the identification, selection and long-term 
training of athletes in various sporting events.
Through a varsity system, student athletes in K-12 will have better 
chance to play athletically at a higher level. Furthermore, an institutionalized 
varsity sports team in basic education can pave the way for the provision of 
training equipment and upkeep of modern facilities that can help improve the 
training of young athletes.
However, since long-term training of student athletes is expensive, 
both public and private elementary and secondary schools are encouraged to 
network with parent-teachers associations, local governments, business 
community and other organizations to provide the much needed assistance 
for varsity sports in all our schools.
In the 2018 proposed budget of the Department of Education, the 
appropriation for Physical Fitness and School Sports amounts to only 
Php358,155,000.00 for the conduct of Palarong Pambansa and other sports 
competition.2 It’s about time for the agency to provide additional funding to 
support school sports to optimize the development of Filipino athletes.
Helping Filipino athletes to hone their skills at a very early age is a 
necessity and an urgency. In the 29th South East Asian Games in Kuala 
Lumpur, Malaysia, the Philippines missed its projection of 50 gold medals and 
absorbed its poorest finish in terms of gold medal production in the last 18 
years. In the past two editions of SEA Games -  in Myanmar and Singapore in 
2013 and 2015, respectively, the Philippine contingent won only 29 gold 
medals.3
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought to develop 
a pool of Filipino athletes and future champions and to improve the country’s 
performance in international competitions, especially the SEA Games.
SENATOR J/0EL VILLANUEVA
House Bill No. 6215 or the 2018 General Appropriations Bill
“Team PH braces for worst SEA Games output in 18 years" available at http://news.abs- 
cbn.com/sports/08/28/17/team-ph-braces-for-worst-sea-games-output-in-18-years 
(accessed 
October 
19,2017)


i
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
- r-l' !l ;T
o i (  ■ 
. ,-r , t i ’
SENATE
S. B. no.1615
*17 
NOV 20 AlO '34
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SPORTS VARSITY TEAMS IN 
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Sports 
Varsity Teams in Basic Education Act of 2017.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy 
of the State to promote physical education and encourage sports programs, 
league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international 
competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the 
development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
To this end, the state shall provide opportunities for optimal and long­
term development of Filipino athletes by expanding the base of student 
athletes, increasing the time and frequency for their early exposure, training 
and competition through the institutionalization of sports varsity teams in the 
basic education cycle.
SECTION 3. Institutionalization of Sports Varsity Teams. — To 
ensure the optimal and long term development of Filipino athletes, elementary 
and secondary schools, both public and private, shall institutionalize sports 
varsity teams.
There shall at least be a varsity team for athletics for every school as 
athletics forms the base for other sports. The school shall expand the number 
of sport events to cover gradually according to the school’s after-school sports 
program, interests of students, coaches and the community.


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Sports events that shall be considered in the establishment of varsity 
teams in elementary and secondary levels shall include, but not limited to, the 
following;
1. Archery
2. Amis
3. Badminton
4. Baseball
5. Basketball
6. Boxing
7. Chess
8. Football
9. Gymnastics 
lO.Sepak Takraw
11. Soft Ball
12. Swimming
13. Table Tennis
14. Taekwondo
15. Tennis
16. Volleyball
17. Billards
18. Futsal
19. Wrestling
20. Wushu
21. Aerobics Gymnastics
22. Dance Sports
23. Pencak Silat
24. Basketball 3X3
The establishment of varsity teams in traditional and indigenous 
games, dances and sports shall also be encouraged.
SECTION 4. Organization of Sports Varsity Team. -  The 
organization of sports varsity teams shall consider the following:
a. Presence of competent and committed teacher-coaches;
b. Availability of facilities and equipment;
c. Administrative support; and
d. Support of the community.


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SECTION 5. Identification of Athletes. -  The Department of 
Education (DepEd) shall provide a sports varsity selection and admission 
system.
All K-12 learners who are officially enrolled in Elementary, Junior High 
School, Senior High School, Open High School and Alternative Learning 
Systems, especially those who participate in the after school sports program 
(ASSP) and who can meet the following requirements can join their school’s 
sports varsity teams:
a. Must have passed the physical fitness tests and skill tests;
b. With parental consent; and
c. In good academic standing.
SECTION 6. Selection and Deployment of Competent Coaches. -  It 
shall be the responsibility of the school administration to secure the services, 
of competent coaches. Teachers, including sports coordinator, trained in 
sports coaching are the priority in the selection of coaches.
Former outstanding athletes from among the parents or community 
residents may be tapped to serve as volunteer coaches in the sports where 
they excel and gained national or international recognition. Likewise, students 
and graduates of the Sports Track in the Senior High School (SHS) shall be 
tapped to provide assistance in the training of Sports Varsity Teams.
The Sports Varsity Teams may also serve as a venue for the practicum 
and/or immersion of students in the Sports Track.
SECTION 7. Recognition and Training of Coaches. -  DepEd shall 
create a mechanism to provide incentives and/or recognition to volunteer 
coaches.
DepEd, in consultation with the Philippine Sports Commission, National 
Sports Associations, Philippine Olympic Committee and the private sector 
shall develop programs to train varsity coaches to become certified trainers 
based on international standards.
SECTION 8. Time and Frequency of Training. -  The implementing 
school has the discretion to determine the time and frequency of training of 
the varsity teams, provided that the trainings are conducted after the regular 
class hours and shall not interfere with instructionally relevant activities 
pursuant to engaging students in learning the lessons of the curriculum.
SECTION 9. More Competition. -  Aside from the calendar of regular 
sports competitions conducted by the DepED, private and public schools shall 
organize varsity match with neighboring schools. A league may be composed 
of public and private schools.


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Furthermore, elementary and secondary school may partner with 
existing stadiums and sports centers in the community to host varsity 
matches.
SECTION 10. Equipment for Sports Varsity. -  It shall be the 
responsibility of the school administration to secure the equipment necessary 
to sustain the training of sports varsity teams. Such equipment may be 
sourced from regular budget and extra-budgetary means such as donations 
from the community.
The DepEd, in consultation with the Philippine Sports Commission, 
shall be responsible for maintaining a databank of standard facilities and 
equipment, their technical specifications, suppliers and indicative prices for 
every sport covered in international competitions.
SECTION 11. Performance Profiling of Student Athletes. -  There 
shall be a school-based profiling of student athletes. In case of a student 
athlete’s transfer to another school, it is the responsibility of his/her former 
coaches to transmit his/her athletic profile to the new school to ensure proper 
recognition and continuous training and development. The student athlete’s 
profile shall show results of his/her previous competition/s and improvement in 
clocking in the case of measurable sports.
All elementary and secondary schools shall register and update their 
student athletes’ profile from time to time.
SECTION 12. Registry of Student Athletes. -  DepEd shall maintain a 
registry of student athletes and shall make this accessible to colleges and 
universities, Philippine Sports Commission, National Sports Associations, 
Philippine Olympic Committee and 
other private sport groups and 
organizations and shall be used solely for identification of potential inclusion 
to varsity teams in college and universities or in the case of the Philippine 
Sports Commission, selection of national athletes who can represent the 
Philippines in international sporting events.
SECTION 13. Incentives. - Recognitions and incentives shall be 
awarded to school coaches and school heads for their support to the 
organization/registration of their school varsity teams.
Teacher-coaches shall be given service credits and/or additional 
compensation or overtime pay for work performed in excess of eight (8) hours 
in accordance with law.
SECTION 14. Appropriation. -  The funds necessary for the 
institutionalization of sports varsity teams, especially the provision of 
equipment, in elementary and secondary schools, shall come from the regular 
appropriation of DepEd.


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SECTION 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety 
(90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd Secretary and the 
Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, upon consultation with 
relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations needed for 
the implementation of this Act.
SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
rules, regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION 17. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or 
provision of this bill is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or 
provisions hereof shall remain in force.
SECTION 18. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen days after 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Adopted.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
ififi.cr ot I !f f- ■ 1 'tiir?
SENATE
P. S. RES. NO.S45
•17 
NOV 20 ra0 31
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING TERESITA SSEN 
“WINWYN” MARQUEZ FOR BEING CROWNED AS THE REINA
HISPANOAMERICANA 2017
WHEREAS, Winwyn Marquez became the first Asian winner of Reina 
Hispanoamericana pageant last November 4, after she bested 26 candidates, 
during the coronation night in Sta. Cruz, Bolivia;
WHEREAS, 
The 
Reina 
Hispanoamericana 
pageant 
celebrates 
Hispanic heritage and culture. The Philippines is the first Asian country to join 
the pageant, having been a colony of Spain for more than three centuries;
WHEREAS, the 25-year old charmed her way to the crown despite 
having difficulty with the language and beautifully explained that “[Ijanguage 
can be learned but the will and determination to contribute to the organization 
cannot. It has to come from the heart;”
WHEREAS, 
the 
Filipina 
beauty 
queen’s 
positive 
and 
strong 
determination to fulfill her dream of winning the title is indeed a positive 
example and great inspiration to her countrymen, particularly the youth, that 
no dream is impossible as long as she puts her heart and mind to it;
RESOLVE BY THE SENATE, that the Senate of the Philippines 
recognizes and commends Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez on her victory at 
the 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana, and extends its warmest gratitude for 
bringing pride and glory to all Filipino citizens.
Adopted,
SENATORXKDEL VILLANUEVA