Senate OKs creation of Philippine High School for Sports on 3rd reading

Voting 21-0, the Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to create and establish the Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS).

Senate Bill (SB) 1086, or the Philippine High School for Sports Act of 2019,  will enable student-athletes to be enrolled in a sports high school where they are provided with full or partial scholarships by the government.

If passed into law, a specialized curriculum to be developed by the Department of Education (DepEd) will allow the youth to study core subjects, such as Mathematics and Science, while simultaneously developing their athletic skills.

"The end view of this legislation is to unleash the potential of young Filipinos who have shown early potential of excelling in sports for a sports-related career,” said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture and sponsor of the bill.

He said the Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS) would be a world-class educational and athletics facility which is at par with international standards. It shall be under DepEd's supervision.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) shall provide the land for the PHSS at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac and shall be in charge of the construction of classrooms, dormitories, and other sports facilities and related amenities.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Committee on Sports chairman, said the proposed bill will provide opportunities for students to complete high school while excelling in their chosen sports.

"With the (establishment) of the PHSS in very close proximity to world-class facilities, our student-athletes can enjoy a level of training which is at par with the best in the world," Go said.

"This type of training and education can catapult our student-athletes to illustrious careers in sports, whether as athletes, coaches, managers, or any other sports-related profession," he added. —KBK, GMA News