FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 14, provides, “The State recognizes the role of 
women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women 
and men.” In society like ours, the equality of the sexes should be an old issue not worthy of the 
slightest of attention. 
Sports does not only bring people together, it also develops other aspects of a person. 
This is not only applicable to men but also holds true for women. There is substantial evidence 
that women and girls who participate in sports have better physical and emotional health than 
women and girls who do not participate, and that participation in athletics can improve academic 
achievement. 
The field of sports was not spared from sex discrimination. Again, the discrimination is 
detrimental to the interest of women. Despite the assurances of the Constitution, a significant gap 
remains between the athletic opportunities available to men and the athletic opportunities 
available to women. This bill seeks to grant women equal sport opportunities with men - “to 
level the playing field” so to speak with regard to the opportunities available to women and men 
in the province of sports. In a wider perspective, this bill equips women with the capacity to play 
a major role in nation-building.* 
*This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S.B.No. . 3 3 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
GRANTING WOMEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP 
AND TO PRIZES OF SPORTS 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representative in Congress of the Philippines 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Sports Equal Opportunity Act 
of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a state policy to recognize the role of 
women in nation-building, and to ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and 
men. Sport shall not be the last bastion of sex discrimination because any kind of discrimination 
is repugnant to an orderly society like ours. 
SECTION 3. Dejinition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Athletic scholarship program” includes all benefits derived from the program given 
by the school, college, university or any other person, party or entity; 
(B) “Sport Event or tournament” means any tournament, competition, contest, race, 
match, event, or game where a sport prize, as defined in paragraph (E) of this section, is given to 
winners; 
(C) “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Department of Education; 
(D) “Department” refers to the Department of Education; and 
(E) “Sport prize” includes awards, premiums, incentives, rewards, gifts, or anything 
given to a winner of a sport event or tournament, whether monetary or not. 
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SECTION 4. Athletic Scholarship Program. - Schools, colleges, universities, or any 
other learning institutions shall take into account the gender of its total student population in 
granting athletic scholarship. There shall be no pro rata representation of women in the athletic 
scholarship program based on the percentage of women in the whole student population. 
The schools, colleges, universities, or any other learning institutions shall submit an 
annual report in writing to the Secretary which contains the following: 
(A) The total number of the student population; 
(B) A list of athletic scholars; and 
(C) The extent of the scholarship program given to a particular individual, 
including a summary on how much was given to a particular scholar. 
SECTION 5. Right to Know. - Student of the schools, colleges, universities or any other 
learning institutions shall have the right to know the information contained in the annual report 
required by the preceding section. Upon a written request from the students, the colleges, 
universities, or any other learning institutions shall hmish with a copy of the annual report. 
SECTION 6. Sports Prizes. -No sport event or tournament will offer or award a different 
sport prize, with respect to its amount or value, to women and men winners. Provided that, the 
said tournament, contest, race, match, event, or game is open to both sexes: Provided further that, 
the sport event or tournament is divided into male and female division. 
SECTION 7. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Department of is hereby 
authorized to promulgate the necessary rnles and regulations to implement the provisions of this 
Act in accordance with its purposes. 
SECTION 8. Penalty. - Any violation of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not less 
than Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) 
or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than three (3) months or both at the 
discretion of the court. If the offense is committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership or 
association, or other entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers of 
such corporation, trust, firm, partnership, or association, or entity. 
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SECTION 9. S’epurability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifleen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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