Bill to create 'Philippine High School for Sports' to be re-filed

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers vowed to introduce again a bill in the 16th Congress creating a Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS) to produce world-class athletes who shall represent the country in international tournaments in the future.

Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), author of the measure, said the establishment of a high school for sports should offer free secondary courses with special emphasis on developing the athletic skills of the students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports development.

“The PHSS shall pursue a comprehensive approach to human resources development, thus maximizing the potentials of the youth,” Angara said.

Angara, chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education, said a special fund with P50 million seed capital to be taken from the annual earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) should be allotted to finance the project.

Angara said the additional funding shall also be provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from the 10 percent of all unclaimed and forfeited sweepstakes and lotto prizes but not less than P12 million per year for four years.

The measure will create an executive director position that will head the Executive Council composed of the heads of departments, and other ranking faculty members and officials of the school.

The measure shall also create a Board of Trustees to be composed of the Secretary of Education, as ex officio Chairperson, Executive Director of the PHSS, as ex officio Vice Chairperson, and three representatives from accredited sports associations or societies from the private sector, to be appointed by the President of the country.

Representatives from the Senate and from the House of Representatives shall also be members of the Board of Trustees.

The bill was also authored by 20 other members of the House of Representatives.

House Bill 3825 was approved on third and final reading and was transmitted to the Senate in January 2011.