Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno has proposed a law seeking to prevent the commercialization of student-athletes by barring schools from offering excessive benefits and imposing unfair residency rules on them.

Puno, the chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), said his measure prioritizes the education of student athletes and protects them from attempts to commercialize their participation in amateur sports.

“Student-athletes are precisely that, student first, athletes second. Too often the fierceness of sports competition drives schools, parents, alumni and sometimes the students themselves to forget the primacy of education and prioritize winning instead. The time has come for us to protect the student-athlete,” said Puno, who represents the first district of Antipolo City.

Under House Bill 4581 filed by Puno, schools are prohibited from imposing residency rules on high school student-athletes transferring to another school, “without prejudice to the respective rules of athletic associations on foreign imports.”

“In the case of a tertiary Student-Athlete transferring from one college or university to another, a maximum period of one (1) –year residency may be imposed by athletic associations,” HB 4581 states.

The measure also bars schools from imposing any form of penalty or punishment on student-athletes transferring to other schools.

Incentives offered to student athletes under HB 4581 are limited to tuition, miscellaneous school fees, books, and other learning materials; board and lodging; uniforms, equipment, standardized living allowances; and other reasonable benefits “that would further enhance [their] academic and athletic performance.”

According to Puno, his bill also allows  athletic associations or the appropriate government agencies to investigate, or impose sanctions on,  schools which offer student-athletes commercial considerations for them to transfer 

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which was named as the lead agency in implementing the measure, along with the  Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and  other relevant government agencies may,  on its own  or upon written complaint, investigate violations of the proposed Act and impose the appropriate penalties, “without prejudice to any civil or criminal action filed in court,” Puno said.