THE House committee on youth and sports development has ordered the technical working group to speed up the approval of the proposed measure that seeks to promote the welfare of student-athletes.
The panel, chaired by Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, named Antipolo City Rep. Cristina “Chiqui” Roa-Puno as head of the TWG to fine-tune the bill authored by deputy speaker and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano.
Cayetano recalled that her staff originally drafted the “Magna Carta of Student- Athletes” as contained in House Bill 583 when she was still a senator.
Cayetano said the proposed bill of rights for student-athletes shall endeavor to address issues and concerns encountered for many years by many student-athletes, past and present, as there is no existing law that promotes and protects their overall welfare.
“The intention of the bill is to raise awareness among all stakeholders in the educational institutions of what these students go through and what they bring to their schools in terms of honor and prestige. Yet, it must always be emphasized that they are students and not just athletes,” Cayetano said.
The bill also aims to provide appropriate recognition and protection to the rights and general welfare of student-athletes encompassing academic, amateur sports, and mental and physical aspects.
It also recognizes that student-athletes should be protected from discriminatory policies that may restrict their participation in any field of amateur sports which they have chosen to join and compete in and consequently hinder the development of their full potential as athletes and well-rounded citizens of the country.
Cayetano said the bill recognizes the vital role of the schools and accredited athletic associations not only in providing the opportunity and avenue for student-athletes to join and excel in sports, but also in ensuring the protection of student-athletes from physical harm, discrimination, and other potentially harmful consequences of training and competing in their respective fields of amateur sports.
For his part, Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said that despite the passage of Republic Act 10676 in 2014, its implementing rules and regulations have not yet been promulgated.
The bill provides the Ched and the Department of Education, in consultation with the Philippine Sports Commission, shall draw up the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10676.
