Senate OKs bill creating Philippine High School for Sports

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) — The Senate on Wednesday has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to create the Philippine High School for Sports.

Senate Bill No. 1086 aims to establish a dedicated national high school which will offer a secondary course with special emphasis on developing the athletic skills of the students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports development.

According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, it will be a world-class educational and athletics facility at par with international standards.

Despite the fact that Filipinos love sports, Gatchalian noticed that the country has been lagging behind other countries in international competitions and events. He said that while the Philippines has been participating in the Olympics since 1924, Filipino athletes only won 10 medals and not a single gold medal.

"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," the lawmaker said.

Under the proposed law, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority is tasked to provide the land for the sports high school at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac and will be in charge of the construction of classrooms, dormitories, other sports facilities, and related amenities.

The school will offer full or partial scholarship programs to students who have demonstrated the potential of excelling in sports. At the same time, it will provide students with quality secondary education in their chosen tract which shall not be limited to the sports track under the supervision of the Department of Education.