Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _203 1

Introduced by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article 14, Section 19 provides:

SEC. 19. (1) The State shall promote physical education and encourage
sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for
intemational competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for
the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.

(2) All educational institutions shall undertake regular sports activities
throughout the country in cooperation with athletic clubs and other sectors.

The Constitution, Article 2, 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.

Sports events 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
performance. .

Ina society like ours, the equality of the sexes should be an old issue not worthy of the
slightest attention. However, the field of sports is not spared from sex discrimination.
Discrimination in this regard 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 area of sports. In a wider perspective, this bill equips women

with the capacity to play a major role in nation-building.

In view of the foregoing circumstances, approval of this bill is urgently requested.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS,

First Regular Session

2091

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambar

AN ACT
GRANTING WOMEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
AND TO PRIZES OF SPORTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Equal Opportunity in Sports

Act of 2010.”

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 a democratic society like ‘ours.

SECTION 3. Definition 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


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(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.

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 scholarships. There shall be a 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. — Students of the schools, colleges, tniversities 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 furnish them with a copy of the annual report.

SECTION 6. Sports P) —No sport event or tournament will offer or award a different
sport prize, with respect to its amount or value, to female and male 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 rules 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 (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00)

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.

SECTION 9. Separability 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 fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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