DepEd, schools urged to develop athletic scholarship programs

MANILA, Philippines - Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo has urged private as well as state universities across the country to develop athletic scholarship programs for high school graduates who cannot pay for their tuition fees, but who have the ability to excel in a sport.

An athletic scholarship award enables a recipient to attend a college or university based mainly on his or her ability to play in a sport or game.

“Right now, two out of every five high school graduates are unable to proceed to college, largely due to the steep tuition. Athletic scholarships can help put more high school graduates through college,” Romulo said.

“While common in the United States and other countries, college athletic scholarship programs are still unfortunately rare here in the Philippines,” he said.

He said in the US, college athletic activities are drawing large financial contributions from alumni, and many universities there mobilize alumni donations to support sports scholarships for both male and female students.

He said many American universities have athletic scholarship programs for students who shine in basketball, baseball, bowling, cross country running, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, rifle, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling, among others.

The lawmaker urged the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to jointly develop a program wherein financially disadvantaged high school graduates who stand out in a sport may be formally endorsed to a university that offers athletic scholarships.

Romulo is an author of the proposed Act Establishing a Student Assistance Program by Banks and Government Financial Institutions, which the House approved on third and final reading during the 15th Congress.

Under the program, an eligible student may obtain a low-cost bank loan to pay for the tuition of the college where the borrower has been accepted. The student may also use the money to finance all other schooling as well as living expenses.

The loan would have an effective interest rate pegged to the 91-day Treasury bill rate, which stood at 0.90 percent per annum as of June 26.

The bank may apply an add-on three to five percent annual interest rate. But instead of the student paying for the extra interest charges, the lender may claim the corresponding amount as tax credits. Then the bank may use the credits to pay or offset its tax obligations.

The borrower would pay off the loan periodically, starting two years after graduation, but not later than eight years after leaving college.

Borrowers would be issued either Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) numbers, depending on their preferred future employment.

The bank may enlist the SSS or GSIS to collect repayments via salary deduction. It may also ask the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to help collect from borrowers with job contracts abroad.