Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6473
HOUSE BILL NO.
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR
SPORTS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Education is an integral part of the society and in fact takes priority as mandated by the 1987
Philippine Constitution, to wit:

“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels,
and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. The State shall:

(1) Establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of
education relevant to the needs of the people and society;

(2) Establish and maintain a system of free public education in the elementary and high
school levels. Without limiting the natural right of parents to rear their children,
elementary education is compulsory for all children of school age” (Section 1, Article
XIV).

The State is also mandated 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. All educational institutions shall undertake regular sports activities throughout the
country in cooperation with athletic clubs and other sectors” (Sectionl9, Article XIV).

Interest in sports has spiked in recent years with the glory and admiration received by national
athletes in international competitions with the likes of the boxing icon, Senator Emmanuel
“Manny” Pacquiao, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, as well as sports legends Paeng Nepomuceno,
Elma Muros and Lydia de Vega, among many others.

Apart from providing adequate funding support for sports bureaus on one hand, the legislature
has another responsibility by establishing special schools meant to train young athletes to future
generations of sports icons.

‘As such, the Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS) is put forward to motivate Filipinos to be
excel in sports at a young age. This will provide an avenue for them to be well prepared for


international competitions, as being done in other countries. The PHSS will be of world-class
calibre—adequate infrastructure, topnotch instructoan, ideal facilities and proper funding
mostly needed by young athletes.

Furthermore, the creation of a specialized high school for sports was listed as a priority of the
Duterte administration.

Approval of this measure is sought.

J ON wllo>
CAMILLE A. VILLAR



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6473
HOUSE BILL NO.__

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPORTS 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 Act of
2019."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles. - 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. Towards this end, the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports
programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international
competitions, and foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a
healthy and alert citizenry. The State shall provide adequate training for students with athletic
abilities for competitive sports to foster the holistic development of the youth and to prepare the
students for a long-term career in sports development.

Sec. 3. Creation and Establishment of the Philippine High School for Sports. - There is hereby
created and established a Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS) to develop the athletic skills
and talents of high school students. 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. The
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the school shall be submitted by the DepEd, in
coordination with the PSC, to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for
evaluation and approval.

Sec. 4. Purpose of the PHSS. - The PHSS shall offer, on a full or 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


educating its students who have shown their early potential of excelling in sports for a sports-
related career while undergoing quality secondary education, The Board of Trustees, as created
under Section 7 of this Act, may agree to accept paying students based on the criteria that it will
hereafter establish.

Sec. 5. Site, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of the PHSS. - After a period of planning
not exceeding one (1) year upon the effectivity of this Act, the necessary sports facilities and
amenities, which are at par with international standards, shall be constructed at New Clark
City in Capas, Tarlac.

‘The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) shall provide the land for the site, by
way of usufruct, and shall be in charge of the construction of classrooms, dormitories, sports
facilities, and other related amenities at the New Clark City campus.

The PHSS shall be in charge of its annual operation expenses and maintenance costs.

Sec. 6, Director of the PHSS. - Upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, the President
shall appoint the Director who shall serve as head for a period of six (6) years. The functions,
powers, and duties of the Director, in addition to those specifically provided for under this Act,
shall be those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of any high school in the Philippine
educational system.

Sec. 7. Board of Trustees. - The PHSS shall have a Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the
Board, which shall be composed of the Secretary of the DepEd as Chairperson, the Chairperson
of the PSC as Vice Chairperson, and the following members: the Director of the PHSS; one (1)
representative each from the House of Representatives and the Senate; the President of the
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC); and, three (3) representatives from different POC-
accredited national sports associations to be nominated by their respective sports associations
and appointed by the Chairperson of the Board.

The three (3) representatives from the different POC-accredited national sports associations
shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, renewable every two years by the Chairperson of
the Board in due consultation with the Vice Chairperson.

In case of vacancy in the Board, the appointee shall serve the unexpired term of the predecessor.

All members who are not receiving regular compensation from the government shall receive per
diem for every meeting of the Board, subject to existing rules and regulations of the DBM for the

purpose.

Sec. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board of Trustees. - The exercise of the corporate powers of
the PHSS is hereby vested exclusively in the Board of Trustees. The Board shall have the
following specific powers and duties, in addition to its general powers of administration and the
exercise of all the powers granted to the board of directors of a corporation under Section 35 of
Republic Act No. 11232, otherwise known as the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines:
(a) To identify the satellite branches and regional campuses of the PHSS;


(b) To approve the curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline draw up by the Executive
Council as hereinafter provided;

(©) To receive and appropriate for the ends herein specified such sums as may be provided by
law for the support of the PHSS;

(@) To approve appointments made and contracts entered into by the PHSS Director in
connection with the employment of teachers, lecturers, and other employees of the school, fix
their compensation and other conditions of employment, and remove them for cause after proper
investigation;

(©) To provide and approve fellowships and trainings for faculty members;

(D 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. Such fees and
charges and other internally-generated income by the PHSS shall constitute the Sports High
School Fund, as created under Section 18 of this Act, and shall be deposited in any authorized
government depository bank, and all interests which shall accrue therefrom shall form part of
the same fund for the use of the PHSS.

Any provision of existing laws, rules and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, any
income generated by the PHSS from tuition fees and other charges, as well as from the operation
of auxiliary services and land grants, shall be retained by the PHSS, and may be disbursed by the
Board for instruction, research, extension, or other programs or projects of the PHSS: Provided,
That all fiduciary fees shall be disbursed for the specific purposes for which they were collected;

() 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;

(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 levels;

(k) To approve the issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful candidates for graduation;

(D) To receive, in trust, legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all kinds
and to administer the same for the benefit of the PHSS or for aid to any of its students;

(m) To enact rules and regulations, not contrary to law, as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes and functions of the PHSS; and

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


Sec. 9. Meetings and Quorum of the Board of Trustees. - The Board shall regularly convene at
least once every quarter. The Chairperson of the Board may call a special meeting whenever
necessary: Provided, That members are notified in writing at least three (3) calendar days prior
to said special meeting.

‘A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of all the members holding office at the time
the meeting is called: Provided, That the Chairperson of the Board is among those present in the
meeting, In the absence of the Chairperson, an Undersecretary of the DepEd, duly designated by
the Chairperson, shall represent him/her in the meeting.

Sec. 10. Reporting Requirements and Auditing of Accounts. - The Board shall submit to the
Commission on Audit (COA), DBM, Office of the President of the Philippines (OP), and
Congress a detailed report on the progress, condition, and needs of the PHSS containing, among
others, the financial statements, statement of assets and liabilities, other revenue sources and
program forexpenditures, physical and financial accountability reports, and other
similar reportorial requirements on or before the fourteenth (14th) day of February of each year.
All accounts and expenses of the PHSS shall be audited by the COA or its duly authorized
representative.

Sec. 11. Executive Council. - There shall be an Executive Council, hereinafter referred to as the
Council, consisting of the Director, the Assistant Director whose position is created under
Section 12 of this Act, the heads of departments of PHSS, and such other ranking faculty
‘members or officials of the PHSS as may be determined by the Board.

The Council shalll have the power to screen and select the students subject for admission, select
students who shall be recipients of scholarships, stipends and other allowances, and develop the
curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline, The Council shall implement and execute the
policies laid down by the Board and exercise such other powers, functions, and duties as the
Board may prescribe.

Sec. 12. Assistant Director of the PHSS. - There shall be an Assistant Director who shall assist
the Director. In the absence of the Director, he/she shall assume the administrative and
supervisory functions of the Director. He/she shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the
Board, subject to the approval of such Board which shall also fix his/her compensation.

Sec. 13, Registrar of the PHSS. - There shall be a Registrar of the PHSS who shall also act as
Secretary of the Board, to be appointed by the Director with the approval of the Board. The
Registrar shall keep all records of the PHSS.

Sec. 14. Treasurer of the PHSS. - There shall be a Treasurer of the PHSS who shall be appointed
by the Director with the approval of the Board.

Sec. 15. Personnel of the PHSS. - The Director shall, upon approval of the Board, employ
professional and highly skilled managers, educators, teachers, and personnel with long and vast
experience in sports administration, education, and management to ensure proper operation and
maintenance of the PHSS.


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Any officer or employee of the Government engaged as a lecturer at the PHSS may receive a
compensation in addition to his/her salary at the rate to be fixed by the Board: Provided, That
his/her duties as such lecturer are performed outside of the regular office hours.

Sec. 16. Payment of National Taxes and Customs Duties. - The payment of national taxes,
including customs duties, of the PHSS shall be charged against the Tax Expenditure Fund
(TEE) provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act.

‘The PHSS shall be exempt from withholding taxes on the honoraria or fees paid by the PHSS to
visiting lecturers or professors from abroad.

Sec. 17. Tax Deduction and Exemption of Donations and Contributions. - All legacies, gifts and
donations for the benefit of the PHSS, its support and/or maintenance, or for aid to any of its
students shall be tax-exempt and fully deductible from the gross income of the donors in
accordance with the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as amended.

See. 18, Sports High School Fund, - All incomes and monetary 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 to existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. This
fund shall be expended as authorized by the Board and exclusively for the purpose of this Act.

Sec. 19, Funding, - The Secretary of the DepEd shall immediately include in the department's
programs the operation of the PHSS whose funding shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Sec. 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd and the PSC, in consultation and
coordination with the DBM, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the BCDA, and other relevant stakeholders shall
promulgate, not later than sixty (60) days upon the effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules
and regulations for its effective implementation: Provided, That the failure to promulgate such
rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.

Sec. 21. 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. 22. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and other administrative
issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.

Sec. 23. 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,