Senate OKs bill on new UAAP residency rule

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the measure  prohibiting the commercialization of inter-school athletic competitions and regulating their residency rules for student-athletes.

Senate Bill No. 2226 or the "Student-Athletes Protection Act" was approved with 15 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and zero abstention.

Under the bill authored by Senator Pia Cayetano, a maximum period of one-year residency may be imposed by leagues on collegiate student athletes transferring from one college or university to another.

But for high school student-athletes transferring to another institution, no residency requirement shall be imposed.

In leagues like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), transferees currently need to sit out for two years before participating in competitions.

"One would think that student-athletes would have the pick of schools. But this is not the case for many of them as their right to choose the school they want to study in is restricted by the residency rules imposed by the athletic associations," said Cayetano, a former athlete from the University of the Philippines (UP).

Cayetano cited the case of swimmer Mikee Bartolome, who was not allowed to compete for two seasons after moving from high school to college from the University of Santo Tomas to UP.

The senator said Bartolome was able to secure a temporary restraining order from the court but had to swim under a "harsh environment" amid a boycott that was reportedly instigated by other schools and league officials.

"It is clear that the residency rules were meant to address piracy. Piracy, when it includes the offer of extravagant luxuries to student athletes, should be prohibited. We must remember that a right to quality education is enshrined in the Constitution," Cayetano said.

Cayetano's proposed law also prohibits schools from giving "commercial consideration" to student-athletes or their immediate family members.

Currently, schools are allowed to give incentives to deserving student-athletes including tuition, miscellaneous school fees, books and other learning materials, board and lodging, uniform, equipment, a reasonable living allowance standardized by the athletic association and other similar benefits.

Incentives other than those earlier mentioned will not be allowed if Cayetano's bill becomes a law. She said these benefits "are contrary to the nature of amateur sports and may result to the commercialization of a student-athlete."

Athletic associations or schools shall be liable under relevant laws for any violation of Cayetano's bill committed by school officials, athletic directors, coaches and members of his or her staff, administrators, alumni or representatives.