Roadmap for Sports Excellence Act

Senate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Orier of th Erretary REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 31 P2:49 SENATE RECEIVED 9Y S. No. _ Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TWENTY (20)-YEAR SPORTS EXCELLENCE ROADMAP TO STRENGTHEN GRASSROOTS SPORTS AND DEVELOP WORLD-CLASS PROGRAMS, ELITE ATHLETES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Philippine sports has continued to achieve historic milestones. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Philippines won its first Olympic gold,' along with two silvers and a bronze. This momentum was sustained in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country secured its best-ever medal haul, including two historic gold medals for Carlos Yulo in gymnastics, and a bronze medal each for boxers, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.2 Beyond the Olympics, Filipino athletes have kept advancing to new heights on the international stage. In 2023, the Philippine Women's National Football Team, the Filipinas, made history by being the first Philippine football team, men's or women's, to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, where they scored the country's first-ever World Cup goal.3 Alas Pilipinas, secured a bronze medal in the 2024 Asian Volleyball ' Lozada, B. (2021, August 7). PH wraps up most successful Olympics campaign with 4 medals. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://sports.inquirer.net/432836/ph-wraps-up-most-successful-olympics- campaign-with-4-medals 2 Olympic Games Paris 2024: All Philippines' medal winners - full list. (2024, August 8). Olympics. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/olympic-games-paris-2024-all-philippines-medal-vinners-full-list 3 Terrado, R. (2022, January 30). Dramatic shootout win over Taiwan seals historic PH trip to World Cup. Spin Philippines. https://www.spin.ph/football/philippines-beats-taiwan-in-shootout-to-seal-world- cup-spot-a795-20220130

Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup, the country's best finish in 63 years.* In basketball, Glas Pilipinas achieved a historic win against Latvia in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the first time they defeated a European opponent since 1960. Similarly, Alex Eala made history as the first Filipino to break into the Top 100 of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the first Filipino to compete in the Open era of the Wimbledon Championships' singles main draw. Despite these achievements, greater support and protection are needed for our national athletes in return for the honor they bring to our country. As such, there is a need to establish a roadmap that would continuously support Filipino athletes starting at the grassroots level, recognizing that world-class elite performers are not developed overnight. Olympian gold medalist, Hidlyn Diaz, began weightlifting at age 11.6 She made history as the first Filipina weightlifter at the 2008 Beijing Olympics? She secured the Philippines' first Olympic weightlifting medal with a silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.8 Four years later, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Diaz ended the country's 97-year gold medal drought, becoming the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist.9 This proposed measure, therefore, seeks to establish a national policy through a twenty-(20) year Roadmap for Sports Excellence that would improve our grassroots programs and empower Filipino athletes to pursue their dreams. 4 Bautistsa, O. (2024, June 1). Key takeaways from Alas Pilipinas' historic campaign in 2024 AVC Challenge Cup. One Sports. https://www.onesports.ph/alas/article/21702/key-takeaways-from-alas- pilipinas-historic-campaign-in-2024-avc-challenge-cup 5 Dioquino, D. (2025, July 3). "Living my dream': Alex Eala revels in historic Wimbledon stint. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/sports/alex-eala-revels-historic-wimbledon-stint-2025/ 6 How did Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz get into weightlifting?. (2021, July 27). GMA Network https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/796967/how-did-olympic-gold-medalist-hidilyn- diaz-get-into- weightlifting/story/#:~:text=According%20to%20her%20cousin%2C%20Allen,competition%20at%201 1%20years%20old ' Department of Education. (2016, December 6). Hidilyn Diaz: A Victor's Crown. Department of Education Philippines. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2016/12/06/hidilyn-diaz-a-victors-crown/ & Olympic Channel (2019, November 10). Hidilyn Diaz on eating her way to Olympic weightlifting glory. Olympics. https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/exclusive-interview-weightlifting-hidilyn-diaz- philippines-diet-tokyo Hamilton, T. (2021, July 26). Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins gold, ends Philippines' 97-year drought. ESPN. https://www.espn.ph/olympics/story/_/id/31888893/weightlifter-hidilyn-diaz-wins-gold-ends- philippines-century-drought

This bill will mandate the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in close coordination with the National Sports Associations (NSAs), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the National Academy for Sports (NAS), to develop a blueprint for sports development. The Roadmap for Sports Excellence shall likewise identify the annual budgetary requirements over a twenty-(20) year period in order to fully harness the potentials of Filipino athletes. Each NSA must prepare their respective roadmaps and shall only receive financial assistance if their roadmap has been reviewed and approved by the PSC. Continuous funding for NSAs will depend on their proper and efficient implementation of their roadmaps. This proposed legislation was filed by the undersigned in the 19th Congress. It also recognizes the crucial and collaborative roles of the PSC, POC, NAS, NSAS, educational institutions, local government units, and other stakeholders, in providing opportunities and avenues for Filipino athletes to develop and excel in their respective sports. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. Pia S. Countano PIA S. CAYETANO SZ

Senate Offier of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 31 P2:49 SENATE RECEIVED SY 1773 S. No. - Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TWENTY (20)-YEAR SPORTS EXCELLENCE ROADMAP TO STRENGTHEN GRASSROOTS SPORTS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS, WORLD-CLASS ELITE ATHLETES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Roadmap for Sports

2 Excellence Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes its vital role in promoting

4 sports excellence by ensuring population-based participation in physical activities, and the development of grassroots sports programs, league competitions, and amateur 6 sports, including training for national and international competitions. Towards this 7 end, a roadmap shall be established to promote the pursuit of sports excellence, which 8 shall be based on targeted and achievable goals for sports development in the country. 9 The roadmap shall also identify and rank the specific sports and athletes that are ready and primed to join international competitions based on measurable indicators, taking into consideration the talent and capability of Filipino athletes. The State shall exhaust and maximize available resources for the development of potential world-class elite athletes, by providing them, among others, budgetary support and opportunities to 14 participate in various sports competitions.

Sec. 3. Roadmap for Sports Excellence of the Philippine Sports Commission. -

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in close coordination with the Philippine 17 Olympic Committee (POC) and the National Academy for Sports (NAS), shall establish

1 and implement a twenty (20)-year sports development roadmap, hereinafter referred 2 to as the Roadmap for Sports Excellence, which shall be based on the roadmap of 3 each National Sports Association (NSA), and updated at least every five (5) years. In 4 the Roadmap for Sports Excellence, the PSC shall identify the specific sports in the 5 Philippines that can excel on an international level. It shall provide for a national and 6 local policy on developing the potential, honing the skills and talents, and supporting 7 Filipino athletes to become, among others, world-class qualifiers and medalists in the 8 Olympics and other international sports competitions. The PSC shall also include and 9 delineate the tasks of the national, regional, and local sports authorities to ensure the 10 Roadmap for Sports Excellence's full implementation. It shall also include the budgetary requirements necessary for the full implementation of this Act: Provided, That the PSC shall closely work and coordinate with all stakeholders, and issue the necessary rules and regulations that would properly implement the Roadmap for Sports Excellence.

Sec. 4. Roadmap of Each National Sports Associations. - All NSAs shall craft

their respective roadmaps for the national development of their own sports; it shall incorporate, among others, programs and activities for grassroots promotion, identifying potential athletes, assistance for trainings and competitions, including the necessary budgetary requirements to support their athletes' full development in both the national and international arena; the roadmap shall also include special programs and funding for those with the potential to become world-class elite athletes in the Olympics and other international sports competitions. All NSAs shall set goals on the expansion of their grassroots programs and the exposure and opportunities for their respective athletes and coaches in national and international sports competitions: Provided, That the NSAs shall only receive financial assistance if their roadmap has been reviewed by the PSC, certifying its propriety and compliance with Section 7 of 27 this Act: Provided, further, That the continuous funding of the NSAs shall be determined by the PSC based on the proper, reasonable, and efficient implementation 29 of each NSA's roadmap.

Sec. 5. Development of Grassroots Program. - In addition to its functions under

Republic Act No. 11470 or the "The National Academy of Sports", the NAS, together

1 with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the PSC, shall establish a systematic 2 grassroots program that would properly identify and select Filipino athletes based on 3 a qualifying admission criteria, and develop them to become world-class elite athletes: Provided, That all public educational institutions and Local Government Units (LGUs) 5 shall actively participate and support the programs, activities, and projects of the PSC 6 and the NAS, while private educational institutions are encouraged to do the same: 7 Provided Further, That nothing in this Section shall limit or prevent all NSAs from 8 pursuing other programs and activities for the development of their respective sports.

Sec. 6. Institutionalization of Indicators of Olympic-Bound Sports through Local

10 and National Competitions. - The PSC and the NAS shall institutionalize a point system, through well-organized local and national sports competitions, that will be used as indicators in identifying and ranking the Focus Sports. In identifying the Focus Sports, the indicators used shall be measurable and achievable by Filipino athletes, taking into consideration their talents and capabilities, which shall also serve as the basis in selecting the pool of national athletes. For purposes of this Act, Focus Sports refer to specific sports and athletes ready and primed to participate and excel in international competitions, including the Olympics.

Sec. 7. Roadmap Components. —The Roadmap shall contain, among others,

policy on the following: a) Sports Development and Participation for All. - Promote and encourage population-based participation in sports and other physical activities, which shall be the basis for the development of more skilled athletes. Coordinate with the LGUs for programs involving, among others, mass participation in physical fitness activities. b) Talent Identification. - Promote early recognition and development of talented and exceptionally gifted Filipino athletes who have demonstrated the potential of excelling in the field of sports. c) Education & Sports. - The PSC and POC, in coordination with various educational institutions, including the NAS, the University of the Philippines (UP), and other concerned government agencies, and in

consultation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), shall ensure that highly talented and exceptionally gifted students are given the opportunity to pursue and excel in sports and have access to good quality education. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11470, or "The National Academy of Sports", NAS shall identify satellite branches and regional campuses of the NAS System to enhance grassroots sports development, and for the identification and training of elite Filipino athletes. The University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics (UP-CHK) shall assist and provide expertise to the PSC and the NSAs in crafting the Roadmap for Sports Excellence, pursuant to the roadmap components provided under this Act. The UP-CHK, through partnership with the PSC, shall: i) Review existing evidence to identify various factors related to elite sporting success; ii) Examine which of these factors are applicable to the Philippine setting and culture; and iii) Recommend strategies to improve planning and implementation of sports programs based on the said factors. d) Sports Scholarships and Grants. - Provide scholarships under relevant laws to all qualified athletes, and offer grants for sports science research to build the knowledge generation capacity of Filipino sports science practitioners and researchers. e) Health and Well-being. - Ensure that the health of Filipino athletes, including their safety, is protected at all times, which includes their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Secure elite Filipino athletes' access to proper nutrition, health care professionals, including free or subsidized vitamins and medical expense coverage, taking into consideration the budget needed for emergency situations, such as athletes' sports-related medical examination and procedures, as well as

strive to provide the same benefits for athletes in grassroots sports, including student-athletes, indirect coordination with their educational institutions and other concerned agencies. f) Infrastructure and Training Facilities. - Ensure that all Filipino athletes are given the opportunity to properly train in their respective sports, by providing them with adequate support and funding to train in safe and world-class facilities, with well-maintained equipment, including other items needed for training. 9) Amateur to National Athlete Support. - Identify the gaps and address the issues that should be resolved in order to provide a policy on the early recognition and development of potential elite athletes by providing adequate support for grassroots athletes and training them to become potential qualifiers and medalists in the Olympics and other international events. Proactively coordinate and collaborate with other concerned agencies. h) Local and International Competitions. - Plan the potential sports career track for all Filipino athletes, from student to amateur to national level, including the promotion of all local and international sports competitions. i) Welfare of Filipino Athletes. - Incorporate and mandate all interested parties to recognize and uphold the rights and welfare of all Filipino athletes, at all times, especially during policy- and decision-making. j) Special Benefits/Incentives/Privileges. - Ensure that all qualified athletes and coaches shall automatically be given the corresponding benefits and incentives, as provided by Republic Act No. 10699, or the "National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act." k) Funding. - Strengthen the framework for the budgetary requirements of all Filipino athletes, depending on their respective needs during their preparation, training, and competitions. 1) Public-Private Partnership. - Encourage active private sector participation through, among others, public-private partnerships that would enable the full implementation of the twenty (20)-year Roadmap for Sports Excellence, including the roadmap of each NSAs.

In crafting the Roadmap, the PSC, in coordination with the POC and the NSAs, 2 shall identify all the gaps and possible issues that could prevent Filipino athletes from 3 harnessing their full potential in their respective sports and include the solutions, 4 targets, and objectives that would fully support the athletes in pursuit of their 5 respective goals and targets, which include becoming potential qualifiers and medalists 6 in the Olympics and other international competitions.

Sec. 8. Roadmap for Sports Excellence National Coordinating Council. - In order

8 to promote and identify a common policy direction that will navigate a holistic g perspective and identify key result areas in determining a sustained sports 10 development in the Philippines, the Roadmap for Sports Excellence National 11 Coordinating Council is hereby established which shall be composed of the following: a) The Commissioner, Philippine Sports Commission, as Chairperson of the Council; b) Heads, National Sports Associations, as members; c) The Executive Director, National Academy of Sports, as member; d) The Secretary, Department of Education, as member; e) The Secretary, Department of the Interior and Local Government, as member; f) The President, Philippine Olympic Committee, as member; 9) One (1) student-athlete representative; h) One (1) national athlete representative; and i) Two (2) private sector representatives who are known supporters of sports development in the country. The heads of government agencies may be represented by an official whose rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent.

Sec. 9. Functions of the Roadmap for Sports Excellence National Coordinating

Council. - The Roadmap for Sports Excellence National Coordinating Council shall have the following powers and functions:

a) Oversee and monitor the progressive realization of the Roadmap for Sports Excellence, as well as the roadmap of each NSAs; b) Identify the key result areas on measuring a sustained sports development in the Philippines; c) Constantly review and assess the roadmap components in Section 9 of this Act based on national and international sports development policies and standards; d) Resolve issues relative to the implementation of this Act, without prejudice to the member-agencies resolving such concerns pursuant to their respective mandates; e) Request for support and technical assistance from any department, agency, or office under the Executive Branch for the effective implementation of this Act; f) Promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity; and g) Perform such other functions pursuant to the fulfillment of the objectives of this Act.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial implementation of

this Act shall be taken from the current budget of the PSC. Thereafter, the amount needed for the full implementation of this Act, including the Roadmap for Sports Excellence shall automatically be included in the annual General Appropriations Act of 22 the PSC.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days

following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,