Senate Bill 157 or the proposed Sports Varsity Teams in Basic Education Act aims to promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.

“Numerous studies in the field of Educational Psychology also pointed out the importance of early experience or exposure in later development, suggesting that optimal athletic skills development should commence from early childhood to late adulthood,” Villanueva said in his explanatory note.

The senator stressed that institutionalizing varsity sports teams in elementary and secondary levels especially in public schools is necessary to optimize the development of Filipino athletes and future champions and to help them acquire positive values such as empathy and respect for others.

Senate Bill 157 mandates the Department of Education to ensure greater focus on the formative years of the country’s pool of athletes.

“Through a varsity system, student-athletes in K-12 will have better chance to play athletically at a higher level,” Villanueva added.

He further explained that institutionalized varsity sports teams in basic education can pave the way for the provision of training equipment and upkeep of modern facilities that can help improve the training of young athletes.

The bill encourages public and private both in elementary and secondary schools to network with parent-teachers associations, local governments, business communities, and other organizations to provide the much-needed assistance for varsity sports in schools.