IRR of RA 11470 National Academy of Sports

Policy, objectives, and guiding principles

The State protects and promotes the right of citizens to quality education at all levels and undertakes steps to make education accessible to all (Section 3).
The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in national building and promotes and protects their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being (Section 3).
The State establishes a national sports program that promotes physical education and encourages sports programs, intramurals, league competition and amateur sports, including training for international competitions (Section 3).
The national sports program must foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for a healthy and alert citizenry (Section 3).
The State shall develop athletes with a strong sense of patriotism and love of country (Section 3).
The State shall institutionalize an education system within the framework of the national sustainable sports program and provide training to produce world class athletes (Section 3).
The system ensures measures for admission of qualified students from all sectors, including indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups (Section 3).

Scope and coverage of the NAS system

The IRR applies to the creation, operation, management, and administration of the National Academy of Sports (NAS) System (Section 2).
The NAS System consists of the main campus to be established in New Clark City, Municipality of Capas, Province of Tarlac, and all future satellite branches (Section 2).
The NAS System also includes regional nationally-funded high schools for sports, extension campuses, and other existing locally funded high schools for sports covered through a memorandum of agreement between the main campus and such schools and/or the appropriate LGUs, as provided under Section 19 of the Act (Section 2).
The NAS System is organized as one system of governance and management, with integration of future regional nationally-funded high schools for sports (Section 4(f)).

Definitions established for IRR application

The Act refers to RA No. 11470, “An Act Creating and Establishing National Academy of Sports and Providing Funds Therefor,” otherwise known as “The National Academy of Sports.” (Section 4(a)).
Considerable potential in sports means a student’s capability that meets qualification standards set by the BOT for admission (Section 4(b)).
Indigenous Peoples are defined by self-ascription and ascription by others as groups who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory and who have occupied and utilized territories under claims of ownership since time immemorial, including peoples regarded as indigenous on account of descent from populations inhabiting the country at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, and who retain some or all of their own institutions, even if displaced or resettled outside ancestral domains; ICCs/IPs include peoples historically differentiated from the majority Filipinos through resistance (Section 4(c)).
Marginalized sectors are those who belong to or are children of basic, disadvantaged, or vulnerable persons or groups under Section 4(d) of RA No. 9710 (Magna Carta of Women), mostly living in poverty and having little or no access to land and other resources and basic social and economic services; they also cover children of disadvantaged sectors under Section 3(b) of RA No. 8425 (Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act), including farmer-peasant, artisanal fisherfolk, workers in the informal sector, indigenous peoples and cultural communities, differently-abled persons, victims of calamities and disasters, and urban poor; marginalized sectors further include those who belong to or are children of self-employed or those working in family workshops, jeepney drivers, foreign domestic migrant workers, and minimum wage earners in the formal sector (Section 4(d)).
NAS refers to the National Academy of Sports created and established through RA No. 11470 (Section 4(e)).
National Academy of Sports System refers to the organization of future regional nationally-funded high schools for sports integrated into one system of governance and management, with BOT policies to enter into memoranda of agreement with existing locally funded high schools for sports as extension campuses or branches; the main campus is established at the existing New Clark City Sports Complex, Capas, Tarlac (Section 4(f)).
National Sports Program is the State’s comprehensive sports development program, including grassroots community sports, school sports from basic to tertiary levels, and amateur and professional sports; it guides development of the special curriculum on sports implemented under the NAS System (Section 4(g)).
Natural-born citizens include citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect Philippine citizenship as defined under Section, Article IV of the Constitution; and former Filipino citizens by birth who naturalized elsewhere but re-acquire Philippine citizenship under Section 4 (Derivative Citizenship) of RA 9225 (Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003) (Section 4(h)).
Persons with disabilities are those suffering restrictions or different abilities due to mental, physical or sensory impairment, as defined by RA No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons) (Section 4(i)).
Special Curriculum on Sports is an organized set of sports content or course of study that complements the core curriculum of the secondary level, designed to develop potentials for athletic scholars to become learned, highly competitive, world-class athletes, and ready to pursue chosen profession or career (Section 4(j)).
Scholarship refers to benefits, incentives, grants, subsidies, allowances, stipends, rewards, fees, or emoluments given to students who meet criteria and fulfill obligations of a bona fide scholar under the NAS System (Section 4(k).

Creation, attachment, and purposes of NAS system

A National Academy of Sports System (NAS System) is created to develop students’ athletic skills and talents using world class sports facilities at par with international standards (Section 5).
The NAS System must implement a quality and enhanced secondary education program integrated with a special curriculum on sports (Section 5).
The NAS System focuses on early recognition and development of highly talented, exceptionally gifted students and those demonstrating potential to excel in sports (Section 5).
The NAS System is attached to the DepEd, in close coordination with the PSC (Section 5).
The NAS System’s purposes include offering secondary education on a full scholarship basis to natural-born Filipino citizens with considerable potential in sports (Section 6(a)).
The NAS System must design a special curriculum on sports that takes into account education and special training needs of the scholar (Section 6(b)).
The NAS System must implement an integrated system of governance and management across all NAS campuses (Section 6(c)).
The NAS System must ensure uniformity in quality standards and systematize operations of NAS schools and rationalize establishment of sports high schools in relation to Section 8(a) of the Act (Section 6(d)).
The NAS System must provide holistic quality education enabling scholars to excel in sports and pursue their chosen profession or career (Section 6(e)).
The NAS System must provide world-class sports facilities at international-standard level for training and development of scholars (Section 6(f)).
The NAS System must expand by integrating identified sports academies and/or creating new sports academies (Section 6(g)).
The NAS System must search for competent, exceptional, notable and talented scholars (Section 6(h)).

Main campus site, facilities, and land use

The NAS main campus is established at the existing New Clark City Sports Complex, Capas, Tarlac after a planning period not exceeding one (1) year from the effectivity of the Act (Section 7).
The main campus must be equipped with necessary sports facilities, housing, and amenities meeting current international standards; school buildings with enough classrooms and facilities must be constructed at the complex (Section 7).
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) provides the land for the site by way of usufruct in perpetuity, subject to its utilization as provided for for the campus (Section 7).
The BCDA constructs classrooms, dormitories, and other sports facilities and related amenities as determined by the BOT (Section 7).
The NAS System must receive utmost priority in the use of the existing sports facilities, dormitories, and infrastructure, which are free of charge as long as utilized to carry out NAS purposes and functions (Section 7).
The free use obligation must not prejudice national and international sports events hosted in New Clark City and coordinated with NAS System management (Section 7).
The BOT must review and approve the NAS Main Campus Site Development; the Office of the Executive Director recommends a Design Plan compliant with laws for school site development and sports facilities compliant with international federation technical specifications for the relevant sports (Section 7(1)).
The Executive Director coordinates with the BCDA on construction of state-of-the-art infrastructure and world-class sports facilities (Section 7(2)).
Implementing rules and guidelines on the use of NAS facilities must be issued for guidance (Section 7(6)).

NAS governance: Board and executive structure

The NAS System is governed exclusively by a Board of Trustees (BOT) (Section 8; Section 9).
The BOT consists of: (a) Secretary of DepEd as Chairperson; (b) Chairperson of PSC as Vice Chairperson; (c) Executive Director of NAS System; (d) President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC); (e) Chairperson of CHED; and (f) Two representatives from private sectors (Section 8(1)).
The two private-sector representatives must be sports/education experts and are elected by the BOT (Section 8(2)).
Private-sector representatives are appointed for two (2) years, renewable for another two (2) years, with no reappointment (Section 8(2)).
The BOT exercises exclusive power over NAS System, in addition to general corporate powers of a board of directors under Section 25 of Republic Act No. 11232 (Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines) as applicable (Section 9).
The BOT formulates policies, guidelines, and criteria to rationalize establishment, administration, and operation of sports high schools under NAS in accordance with the national sports program (Section 9(a)).
The BOT identifies satellite branches and regional campuses for later expansion after main campus establishment (Section 9(b)).
The BOT approves curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline drawn up by the Executive Committee, designed to address specific student-athlete training needs while delivering holistic quality education (Section 9(c)).
The BOT formulates policies on personnel organization, appointment, promotion, retention or renewal of contracts, compensation, removal for just cause, rewards, incentives, and employment conditions for administrators, faculty, and staff (Section 9(d)).
The BOT approves appointments and contracts entered into by the Executive Director for employment of administrative officers, teachers, lecturers, and other employees (Section 9(e)).
The BOT determines conditions for acceptance of paying students for special programs and trainings (sports camps and clinics) and establishes qualifications and criteria (Section 9(f)).
The BOT provides and approves fellowships and trainings for administrators, faculty, and staff (Section 9(g)).
The BOT approves grants of scholarships, stipends, and allowances to deserving students based on guidelines and implementing rules and regulations of the Act (Section 9(h)).
The BOT establishes criteria for selection and admission of students, including national competitive trials and examinations (Section 9(i)).
The BOT recruits the best student-athletes from all regions of the Philippines for enrollment (Section 9(j)).
The BOT develops the athletic potential of every student while ensuring a strong academic base (Section 9(k)).
The BOT provides a training program aimed at producing athletes able to compete in international competitions (Section 9(l)).
The BOT approves issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful graduation candidates (Section 9(m)).
The BOT receives and appropriates sums provided by law for support of NAS System (Section 9(n)).
The BOT receives in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal properties and administers them for NAS benefit or aid to its students (Section 9(o)).
The BOT enacts rules and regulations not contrary to law, including Operations Manuals and Students Handbook and Code of Conduct (Section 9(p)).
The BOT performs all other acts incident to or required by NAS creation and operation (Section 9(q)).
The BOT promotes research and development on emerging sports technologies and trends and fosters partnerships and exchange programs with foreign schools, international sports academies, and sports organizations (Section 9).
Provisions of Section 35 of RA 11232 applicable to the NAS Charter and this IRR form part of the BOT’s powers and functions (Section 9).
The BOT convenes at least once every quarter of the NAS System school calendar (Section 11).
The BOT Chairperson may call special meetings whenever necessary, with written notice to members at least three (3) calendar days before the meeting (Section 11).
Quorum for BOT meetings is a majority of all members holding office at the time of the meeting, and it requires the presence of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson (Section 11).
In the absence of the Chairperson, an Undersecretary of DepEd designated by the Chairperson serves as alternate (Section 11).
Members not receiving regular compensation from the government receive reasonable per diem determined by the BOT for every BOT meeting, subject to existing rules for similar boards (Section 11).
Official representatives may be allowed if the representative is next lower in rank and the representative is the current POC Secretary-General (Section 11).
No representatives are allowed for NAS BOT private-sector members (Section 11).
Designation of official representatives must be in writing and submitted to the NAS Board Secretariat at least three (3) days before the scheduled meeting (Section 11).
The BOT must submit to COA, DBM, and Congress a detailed report on progress, condition, needs, financial statements, statement of assets and liabilities, other revenue sources and expenditure program, physical and financial accountability reports, and similar reportorial requirements on or before the fourteenth (14th) day of February of each year (Section 12).
All accounts and expenses of the NAS System must be audited by the COA or its duly authorized representative (Section 12).

Executive Director and key NAS officers

The NAS System is headed by an Executive Director who serves for five (5) years (Section 13).
The Executive Director is elected by BOT members based on guidelines and qualifications, preferably with a Master’s degree in sports education, sports science, education, management, and substantial experience managing an education institution (Section 13).
The BOT fixes the Executive Director’s compensation subject to the Compensation and Position Classification System (Section 13).
The Executive Director administers and operates the NAS System and coordinates BOT policies and guidelines (Section 13).
The Executive Director has the rank of a Director similar to the head of a Bureau/Service of DepEd, unless otherwise provided by the BOT consistent with the Act (Section 13).
The Executive Director exercises administrative supervision over all Campus Directors and is the primary implementer of BOT policies and guidelines (Section 13).
As a BOT member, the Executive Director articulates priority concerns of all campuses to the BOT (Section 13).
A Search Committee is created to assist the BOT in electing the Executive Director, with composition determined by the BOT (Section 13.1(a)).
The Search Committee calls for submissions of applications upon the effectivity of the Executive Director vacancy (Section 13.1(b)).
The Search Committee screens candidates through paper screening, interviews, and other merit-and-fitness processes (Section 13.1(c)).
The Search Committee assists the BOT in candidate evaluation using guidelines developed and qualifications stipulated in Section 13.2 (Section 13.1(d)).
The Search Committee drafts evaluation criteria with BOT approval (Section 13.1(e)).
The Search Committee determines a candidate’s mental and physical fitness (Section 13.1(f)).
The Search Committee presents evaluation results and shortlisted candidates to the BOT; it may present shortlisted candidates for interview by BOT members based on BOT option (Section 13.1(g)-(h)).
The BOT elects the Executive Director among shortlisted candidates (Section 13.1(i)).
Executive Director qualifications require: (a) at least a Master’s Degree in sports education, sports science, education, management, health, or related field (Section 13.2(a)); and (b) at least 7 years administration and management in an educational institution, at least 7 years teaching experience in Physical Education or sports, and at least 5 years sports/health management, policy formulation, or program and project development (Section 13.2(b)).
If a vacancy occurs during tenure due to death, permanent disability, removal from office, suspension, resignation, or any other reason, the BOT elects a new Executive Director to serve a new 5-year term (Section 13.4).
An Executive Committee exists, consisting of the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, heads of NAS departments, and other ranking faculty members or officials as determined by the BOT (Section 14).
The Executive Committee screens and selects students for admission and scholarship/stipend/allowance recipients; it develops curricula/course of study/rules of discipline; it builds athletic potential through training programs for international competition athletes; it implements BOT policies (Section 14).
The Executive Committee develops and submits to BOT for approval an organizational structure of the NAS System and a prospective structure for a NAS Campus (Section 14).
The Executive Committee includes: Executive Director as Chairperson; Deputy Executive Director as Vice-Chairperson; heads of departments; and ranking faculty/officials as recommended by Executive Director and approved by BOT (Section 14).
The heads and faculty members depend on the number of department offices created under the NAS organizational structure approved by BOT (Section 14).
The Executive Committee’s functions include developing screening/selection guidelines for admission, screening/selecting students and scholarship recipients, reviewing program standards/curricula/discipline rules, developing athletic potential through international-competition training, executing BOT policies, developing and submitting organizational structures, and performing other BOT-prescribed functions (Section 15).
A Deputy Executive Director assists the Executive Director; in the Executive Director’s absence, the Deputy Executive Director assumes administrative and supervisory functions (Section 16).
The Deputy Executive Director’s compensation is fixed by the BOT; the Chairperson of the Board appoints the Deputy Executive Director, subject to BOT member approval and the Compensation and Position Classification System (Section 16).
Deputy Executive Director qualifications include: (a) at least a Master’s Degree in sports education, sports science, education, management, and related field (Section 16(a)); (b) at least 4 years in managing an educational institution, at least 5 years teaching in Physical Education or sports, and at least 5 years policy formulation/program and project development/management (Section 16(b)); (c) CSEE or CESE (Section 16(c)); and (d) 120 hours relevant training (Section 16(d)).
A Registrar acts as Board Secretary and keeps NAS records; the Registrar is appointed by the Executive Director with BOT approval and has rank of Division Chief (Section 17).
The Registrar’s qualifications require: (a) at least a Master’s Degree, preferably in management or related field; (b) at least 7 years relevant experience; (c) Career Service Professional eligibility; and (d) 40 hours relevant training (Section 17).
A Treasurer keeps custody of NAS funds and properties; the Treasurer is appointed by the Executive Director with BOT approval (Section 18).
The Treasurer has rank of Division Chief unless BOT provides otherwise and must meet qualifications: (a) Master’s degree in accountancy, financial management, or related fields; (b) at least 4 years relevant experience; (c) Career Service Professional eligibility; and (d) 40 hours relevant training (Section 18).
With BOT authority, the Treasurer must open and maintain a Trust Fund account of the NAS System (Section 18).
The Executive Director, upon BOT approval, employs professional and highly skilled managers, educators, teachers, coaches, trainers, sports and medical professionals, and other personnel for proper operation and maintenance, subject to existing Compensation and Position Classification System (Section 19).
Government lecturers in the NAS System may receive compensation in addition to salary at a rate fixed by the BOT, provided their lecturing duties are performed outside regular office hours (Section 19).

Satellite branches and regional campuses

The BOT must provide policies for organizing future regional nationally-funded high schools for sports (Section 20).
The BOT must also provide policies for memoranda of agreement with existing locally funded high schools for sports for consideration as extension campuses or branches of the NAS System (Section 20).
Extension campuses are organized in coordination with the concerned LGU, DepEd, and PSC, and in consultation with DBM (Section 20).
The BOT formulates and develops policies and guidelines for establishment and operation of satellite branches and regional campuses, and the organizational structure is approved by the BOT (Section 20.1).
Each campus is headed by a Campus Director with rank equivalent to a Schools Division Superintendent; appointment is by the BOT Chairperson upon Executive Director recommendation and subject to BOT approval (Section 20.2).
Campus Director qualifications require: (a) at least a Master’s Degree in related field, preferably educational administration, sports or health management; (b) at least 3 years administration and management in an educational institution; (c) CSEE or CESE eligibility; and (d) 120 hours relevant training (Section 20.2).
After the main campus is established, the BOT shall: identify future satellite regional nationally-funded high school(s) for sports and provide policies for their organization; provide policies for memoranda of agreement with existing locally funded high schools for sports as extensions; coordinate with LGU, DepEd, PSC and consult DBM for organization of extensions; and approve campus organizational structures (Section 20.3.1).
Extension campuses may be organized with LGU, DepEd, and PSC coordination and DBM consultation (Section 20.3.2).

Curriculum development and special sports subjects

The Executive Director, upon direction from BOT, must convene the Executive Committee and plan curriculum development immediately (Section 21).
The NAS System curriculum must ensure compliance with requirements of the Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum mandated under RA 10533 (Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013) (Section 21).
The Executive Director chairs the Executive Committee and may create sub-committees to assist the Executive Committee and expedite curriculum development (Section 21).
The Executive Committee’s primary function is to develop a specially designed secondary curriculum integrated with sports-related subjects (Section 21).
The NAS System curriculum must: (a) maintain core subjects and complement special sports or allied courses prescribed in RA 10533; (b) align with the National Sports Program Framework; and (c) contain development athletic training programs for each student’s chosen sport (Section 21(a)-(c)).
Curriculum implementation must take into consideration learning delivery modalities for athletic scholars, time allocation for athletic training programs, and learning resources (Section 21(d)-(f)).
A Special Committee on Curriculum Development is constituted by inviting experts from DepEd, PSC, CHED, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and representatives from the academe and private sector (Section 22).
The Executive Director chairs the Special Committee on Curriculum Development and may designate additional members and/or create sub-committees as needed (Section 22).
The Special Committee must develop the NAS System curriculum, consult stakeholders, and perform other tasks assigned by BOT or the Executive Committee (Section 22).
The Special Committee is given three (3) months from its creation to formulate the NAS System curriculum for review of the proper DepEd curriculum office before submission to the BOT for approval (Section 22).
The curriculum must be reviewed and evaluated every five (5) years or upon recommendation of the Executive Committee in coordination with BOT approval (Section 22).

Admissions system and admission manual

The NAS System is a secondary school open to all qualified students from all sectors, including indigenous and marginalized groups, and natural-born Filipino citizens, who possess considerable potential in sports (Section 23).
The Executive Committee with BOT approval must develop a manual of procedures for admission that includes requirements, qualifications, and disqualifications of applicants (Section 24).
Each athletic scholar must be bound by obligations set forth in a contract as a requirement for admission (Section 24).

Scholarship benefits and scholar support

The BOT determines the benefits and incentives of athletic scholars, including: (a) free accommodation with dormitories constructed to house athletic scholars free of charge; (b) food provision supervised by a licensed nutritionist; (c) stipends; (d) free use of sports facilities for training, with BCDA priority to NAS athletic scholars; (e) free training and competition uniform; (f) provision for sports equipment; and (g) health, emergency, and rehabilitation support systems such as insurance and clinics (Section 25).

Taxes, duties, and tax treatment

The payment of national taxes, including customs duties, of the NAS System is charged against the Tax Expenditures Fund (TEF) provided in the annual General Appropriations Act (Section 26).
The NAS System is exempt from withholding taxes on honoraria or fees paid