Education Secretary Sonny Angara ordered all public schools in the country to establish School Sports Clubs (SSCs) in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s objective for healthier and more active citizens.
SSCs aim to promote the overall development of students, strengthen their physical health and help recover from learning loss caused by the pandemic.
“Kapag mas malusog ang katawan, mas malinaw ang isipan.”
“Kapag mas malusog ang katawan, mas malinaw ang isipan. Kapag mas aktibo ang mga bata, mas handa silang matuto at humabol sa anumang naiwang kaalaman noong pandemya,” Angara explained.
Under the new DepEd Order, SSCs will be organized sports programs outside of regular school hours, to provide equal opportunities for all students—regardless of ability level or background—to participate in structured sports activities.
“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa paglalaro. Ito ay tungkol sa disiplina, teamwork, at tibay ng loob.”
“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa paglalaro. Ito ay tungkol sa disiplina, teamwork, at tibay ng loob—mga katangiang dapat dalhin ng mag-aaral hanggang sa tunay na buhay,” the education chief stressed.
According to data from DepEd, many Filipino youth do not meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per day. This was exacerbated by the long hours of sedentary learning and online classes during the pandemic.
In addition to the Physical Education curriculum, SSCs will devote two to three hours per week for supervised sports activities.
Arnis is mandatory, and other sports may also be offered depending on the interests of the students and the school’s facilities. A unified sports format will be used to include learners with disabilities and promote inclusivity, and reduce incidents of bullying.
Membership is open to everyone, including learners with disabilities and those in the Alternative Learning System.
The funds can be drawn from the DepEd’s annual budget, Special Education Fund, school operating expenses, and partnerships with LGUs and the private sector.
“Sa bawat oras na ginugugol nila sa laro at ensayo, pinapalakas din natin ang kanilang konsentrasyon, memorya, at kakayahang magtagumpay sa klase,” Angara concluded.
