Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- The State promotes physical education and encourages sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports.
- Supports training for international sports competitions.
- Institutionalizes Palarong Pambansa as the premier national sporting event.
- Supports youth development through physical, intellectual, and social well-being via school sports.
- Directs all educational institutions to promote physical education and support local and national sports meets.
Objectives
- Institutionalize the Palarong Pambansa under the Department of Education (DepED) as the main event for talent identification and student athlete recruitment.
- Improve the national school sports program and increase event prestige by incentivizing school participation.
- Encourage Local Government Units (LGUs) to actively promote Palarong Pambansa through incentives and rewards.
Palarong Pambansa Board: Composition and Role
- Creation of a Palarong Pambansa Board as the policy-making and coordinating authority.
- Board is attached to DepED and owns all related names, symbols, and logos.
- Board members are entitled to travel expense reimbursements.
- Board consists of 10 members: DepED Secretary (Chairperson), 4 DepED Undersecretaries, 3 DepED Assistant Secretaries, PSC Chairman, and DILG Secretary.
Functions and Duties of the Board
- Formulate policies and guidelines for Palarong Pambansa and related school sports activities.
- Regularly review and update sports rules to align with international standards.
- Promote and increase public awareness and encourage participation from schools and LGUs.
- Provide incentives and rewards to schools, LGUs, and medal winners.
- Establish accreditation policies for athletes, coaches, and chaperones.
- Create communications and accreditation committees.
- Develop marketing strategies including royalties and sponsorships.
- Allocate necessary funds for school sports activities.
- Set hosting criteria, select hosts, and fix event dates.
- Identify sports events to be included in the games.
- Appoint a Secretary General.
- Conduct regular inventory of sports facilities and equipment nationwide.
- Formulate guidelines for sports involving students with disabilities.
- Submit annual reports to Congress and perform other necessary acts.
Secretary General and Secretariat
- Secretary General appointed from DepED members of the Board.
- Responsible for recommending Secretariat composition and fund utilization.
- Secretariat, comprised of personnel from DepED, PSC, and DILG, manages event conduct.
Regional Athletics Associations
- DepED regional offices organize Regional Athletics Associations (RAAs) to supervise regional meets and manage regional teams.
Hosting of the Palarong Pambansa
- Hosting determined by bidding, rotating among Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
- Two adjoining LGUs may co-host if one lacks full facilities.
- Host LGUs may form local boards to assist coordination.
Host LGU Selection Criteria
- Board formulates criteria prioritizing sports facilities and capacity.
- Security and peace and order situations considered.
- LGUs' socioeconomic and cultural promotion opportunities also factored.
Incentives
- Host LGUs receive incentives to encourage bidding.
- Schools with participating athletes receive financial and scholarships incentives for supporting sports programs.
Promotion of the Palarong Pambansa
- Creation of Palarong Pambansa Communications Group for marketing and media coverage.
- Group comprises DepED, Philippine Information Agency, PSC, and DepED regional offices.
- Tasked with securing media coverage and sponsorship agreements.
National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC)
- Established to verify and accredit athletes, coaches, and chaperones.
- NSAC submits masterlist to Board two months before the event.
- Composition includes DepED legal and medical representatives and RAA representatives.
Handling Eligibility Protests
- Board issues guidelines for protests and appeals on eligibility and disqualification.
- Such matters must be resolved within 30 days after receipt.
Sports Events for Elementary and Secondary Divisions
- Elementary sports include athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, and arnis.
- Secondary sports include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, football, futsal, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu.
- Sports for students with disabilities are to be organized suitably.
Regulations and Standards
- Regular review of rules and inventory of sports facilities conducted.
- All sports must adhere to international rules and standards.
- Board consults National Sports Associations in rule updates.
Roles and Responsibilities of the PSC
- Provide manpower, technical resources, and facilities in cooperation with POC and NSAs.
- Develop training programs for outstanding athletes.
- Support training for teachers, coaches, and officials.
- Assist in equipment specification and event management training.
- Recommend qualified non-DepED personnel as event managers.
Roles and Responsibilities of the DILG
- Direct the Philippine National Police to ensure security.
- Appoint representatives to local Boards.
- Coordinate LGUs to cooperate and support the Palarong Pambansa activities.
Appropriations
- Initial funding allocated from the DepED budget and the General Appropriations Act.
- Future funding to be included annually under DepED budget.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- DepED and concerned agencies must promulgate implementing rules within 90 days.
- IRR takes effect 15 days after publication in a major newspaper.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the remaining provisions.
Repealing Clause
- All laws, executive orders, and issuances inconsistent with this Act are repealed, amended, or modified as necessary.
Effectivity Clause
- The Act takes effect 15 days after its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.