Pia seeks OK of bill establishing a 'Philippine High School for Sports'

Stressing the need to breed new generations of homegrown sports heroes, Senator Pia S. Cayetano will push for the passage of a bill in plenary today seeking to establish a Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS).

Cayetano will deliver her sponsorship speech this afternoon on Senate Bill No.2620, the proposed 'Philippine High School for Sports Act of 2011.' Under the measure, the PHSS will serve as training ground for young sports prospects across the country with the end in view of developing them into world-class athletes.

"The creation of the PHSS is long overdue. We need to breed new generations of homegrown sports heroes to elevate the country's performance in regional and international sports competitions in the long-term, and at the same time, serve as an inspiration for our people, especially the youth," said the lady senator, herself a triathlete and avid sports advocate.

"The Manny Pacquiao phenomenon and the growing popularity of football brought about by the recent success of the Philippine Azkals both prove how sports can unite our country and cultivate national pride," she added.

Under SBN 2620, the PHSS will provide secondary education scholarships to students who have shown early potential to excel in sports. The school will also provide a training program to develop athletes who can be competitive in the national, regional and even Olympic levels.

Cayetano said the government should take lessons from the success of the Philippine Science High School and National High School for the Arts which were pioneered in Quezon City and Los Banos, Laguna, respectively, and had since been replicated all over the country.

"Our experience with the Philippine Science High School and National High School for the Arts shows that with proper focus and support, our public school system can produce world-class scientists, engineers, filmmakers, artists and musicians. The Philippine High School for Sports is an idea whose time has come."

Under SBN 2620, the PHSS will be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) which shall coordinate with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for policy and program formulation and implementation on subjects pertaining to sports.

The bill stipulates an initial budget of P100 million for the establishment of the PHSS, to be sourced from annual General Appropriations Act.