To: Undersecretaries
Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents
Schools Principals

1. Considering that the formative 10 years of a potential athlete is spent under DECS supervision, the Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS) program is hereby revised to provide not only physical education classes but also school sports activities to produce future champions.
2. In pursuit of the above redirection, BPESS program will focus on three areas: sports foundation development, sports support services, and sports management.
   Sports Foundation Development
   1. The Sports Foundation Development aims to expand the base of future athletes by increasing the time and frequency for early exposure, training and competition.
   2. Increase Time Allotment of PE Classes. Time allotment for PE classes shall be increased from 80 minutes to 120 minutes per week. This shall apply to physical education (PE) classes from Grade I to 4th pear high school.
   3. The Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE) and the Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) shall adjust the time allotment to accommodate the 120 minutes
   4. BPESS, in consultation with other sports organizations such as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and National Sports Associations (NSAs), will provide the content of PE. It shall also monitor the impact of PE classes on developing character, health and sports excellence and will recommend policy directions as may be necessary.
   5. Institutionalization of School Teams. To ensure a pool of athletes, schools shall organize junior and senior varsity teams. The senior varsity team is the first team which represents the school in competition. The junior varsity team will serve as the reserve team from which new talents will be recruited and promoted to the senior varsity team.
   6. There shall at least be a team for athletics for every school as athletics forms the base for other sports. Other sports for competition such as ballgames and swimming will be left to the school administration to decide upon consultation with neighboring schools. The school will expand the number of sports to cover gradually according to capacity and interest of competing neighboring schools.
   7. More Practice Time for Athletes. The junior and senior varsity teams shall use the PE class or an equivalent time during the week to practice in their respective sports.
   8. It shall be the responsibility of the school administration to schedule the last periods in the afternoon as well as weekends for training and practice games.
   9. More competition. Aside from the calendar of regular sports competitions (intramural, district and provincial meets), schools shall organize home and away games with neighboring schools.
   10. For athletics, there shall be at least three meets during the school year.
   11. For measurable sports such as athletics and swimming, the school, district, province and region shall institute ranking by age as follows: 10 and below, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, and 19 and above.
   12. For ballgames that neighboring schools will hold competition, there shall at least be 10 games (including return matches) during the school year. Of these games, 8 will be among the neighboring schools while 2 will be with schools outside of the district or province. The out of district or provincial games is to provide additional exposure against non-traditional opponents and measure the level of sports of excellence against out of district opponents.
   13. The competition among neighboring schools need not be confined only to public schools. A league may be composed of public arid private schools.
   14. It shall be the responsibility of the division superintendent and corresponding school principals to organize the home and away games among neighboring schools.

   Sports Support Service

   1. The Sports Support Services will ensure that basic needs for Sports Foundation Development will be met.
   2. Equipment for Sports. It shall be the responsi¬bility of the school administration to secure the equipment necessary for PE and for sports competition. Such equipment may be sourced from regular budget and extra-budgetary means such as donations from the community. Schools are accessed to include in the future budget request a provision for supply of sports equipment. Considering, however, that funds of the central government are inadequate it is recommended that they try to source equipment from the local government or donors.
   3. Deployment of Competent Coaches. It shall be the responsibility of the school administration to secure the services, of competent coaches.
   4. Competent coaches are defined as those being over 21 years old and having represented the region in national games.
   5. The coaches may be assigned to a school, district or a division. They may service a group of schools in the locality. Payment of services may be arranged through PSC, local government or DECS.
   6. Improvement of Coaching. BPESS, in collaboration with PSC and NSCs, shall be responsible for organizing the program to improve the competence of coaches for schools through local training, exposure abroad, or holding of clinics by foreign coaches.
   7. Availability of Competent Referees. It shall be the responsibility of BPESS, in collaboration with PSC and NSCs, to accredit referees that can serve in school competitions and other games sponsored by DECS such as regional and national student meets.
   8. Organization of Sports High Schools. The Regional Director shall be responsible for organizing sports high schools. There would be existing high schools near existing stadiums that would be designated as sports high schools to host promising athletes that pass a certain measurable standard.
   9. The sports high school will be equipped with coaches that may be provided by DECS, local government and/or PSC. Student athletes sent to the sports high school will get support for their board and lodging by scholarship provided by DECS, PSC, local government or private donors.

   Sports Management

   1. The objective of Sports Management is to standardize inputs and operating procedures for running games and to provide technical assistance to management of DECS-sponsored games.
   2. Standardize Inputs. BPESS shall be responsible for maintaining a databank of standard facilities and equipment, their technical specifications, suppliers and indicative prices for every sport covered in international competition. This is to avoid repetition of specifications every year whenever there is a meet to prepare.
   3. Standardize Operating Procedures. BPESS shall be responsible for standardizing operating procedures covering different aspects of games management such as opening and closing ceremonies, lodging, security, media affairs, technical aspects, and so forth.
   4. Technical Assistance. BPESS shall provide technical assistance in managing of games. It will also assist the DECS Secretariat for Palaro Games.
3. Reorganization of BPESS Units
   In line with new thrusts, BPESS shall be reorganized with three principal units:
   1. Sports Foundation Development – to concentrate on sports foundation development
   2. Sports Support Services – to concentrate on sports support services
   3. Sports Management – to concentrate on sports management
4. Prioritization
   Although sports foundation development, sports support services, and sports management are all inter-related, certain things have to come first if we have to have a significant impact in upgrading the level of Philippine sports in the next 5 years. Assuming, that we start from zero, the following should be the order of priorities:
   1. Sports foundation development and the deployment of sports equipment. The Ingredients for producing future champions are early exposure, more training, and more competition. Even if we still do not have sophisticated facilities adequate equipment, it is important that our pupils are encouraged to go out in the field to move, run and play. Not only will this promote health and character but children will begin to enjoy the sport. Enjoyment of the sport makes it easier for training at their own accord as this requires sacrifice, dedication and perseverance. Early exposure also enables the school to spot those with better eye, hand and feet coordination who can be streamed into the appropriate sports.
   2. Deployment of competent coaches. The refinement of sports techniques comes easier if there are former athletes who can coach the potential athletes.
   3. School sports high school. Although this should have been done 10 years ago, setting it up may take a little time as it involves integrating inputs of DECS and other agencies such as PSC and the local government.
   4. All others not covered.
5. Networking
   As sports development is expensive, DECS or the school cannot do it alone. It is therefore important for the school to network with parents-teachers association, the local government and the business community to provide support for sports.
6. Sports Development and Promotion as Basis for Judging Performance of School Managers
   1. Please remember that S in DECS stands for sports. School managers are expected to serve as sports managers in their respective level of juris-diction. Thus, the overall performance of school principals, superintendents and regional directors will be judged also on how much they contribute to sports development and promotion.
   2. Progress by the school, province or region on sports from one period to the other will be documented as part of the MIS, using standard data showing items such as increasing base of potential athletes, results of competition, and improvement in clocking in the case of measurable sports.
7. Implementing Guidelines
   This Order sets the general policy direction for the school to make the consultations and preparatory work now so that the mechanisms and schedule of competition shall be in place by opening of school year 1996-97.
   1. Implementing guidelines covering one or several aspects of this Order will be sent by the Office of the Secretary from time to time.
   2. For any clarification or assistance, please contact BPESS or Undersecretary Clemente.
   3. For immediate implementation and compliance.

References:
DECS Orders: Nos. 69, s. 1992 and 84, s. 1994 DECS Memorandum: No. 423, s. 1995
Allotment: 1-2—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
ATHLETICS
BUREAUS & OFFICES
CURRICULUM
PROGRAM, SCHOOL
SCHOOLS

DO_s1996_035