MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 44, December 02, 1998 ]
DECLARING THE PHILIPPINE YOUTH GAMES – BATANG PINOY AS THE NATIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN
WHEREAS, Section 19 (1), Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions and amateur sports including training for international competition, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry”;
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 6847, created the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) under the Office of the President, to carry out this constitutional mandate in coordination with the various government departments, agencies and private entities;
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 63 (s. 1993) created the national, regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay Physical Fitness and Sports Development Councils (PFSDCs), which shall act as the nationwide organizational network to assist the PSC in the planning, information dissemination, actual implementation and monitoring of the National Policy and Program of “Sports For All” as embodied in Executive Order No. 64 (s. 1993) and based on the universal principle adopted by the UNESCO International Chapter for Physical Education and Sports wherein the Philippines is a charter signatory;
WHEREAS, the Philippine Sports Commission, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the various PFSDCs have launched the Philippine National Games as the “centerpiece program” toward the next millennium by virtue of Executive Order No. 163 (s. 1994);
WHEREAS, the Philippine National Games, a biennial national tournament for highly competitive athletes, has envisioned to strengthen its talent base by including competitions for young children thereby harnessing the full potential of our people;
WHEREAS, the Philippine Youth Games – Batang Pinoy, being an integral part of the national policy and program for sports development will effectively address our need for a comprehensive grassroots program centered on values formation inherent in the practice of sports and play (e.g. patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline, respect for law and order, hardwork, teamwork, camaraderie, sportsmanship and fair play), thus, eliminating the child’s chances of becoming a juvenile delinquent; and
WHEREAS, the program can serve as recruitment base for sports specialization including training for other high level leagues, national tournaments and intentional competitions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. All concerned national agencies are hereby directed to extend their full support, cooperation and active involvement in the promotion, public awareness generation and program coordination for the Philippine Youth Games – Batang Pinoy.
Section 2. The DILG and the DECS, being co-chairmen of the National PFSDC, are hereby directed to assist the PSC in the planning, information dissemination, coordination, monitoring and actual implementation of the program. The DILG and DECS are likewise authorized to provide the PSC with technical manpower support, training venues and other forms of assistance as necessary.
Section 3. All local government units (LGUs) constituting the PFSDCs are hereby enjoined to extend full support and active participation in the program.
Section 4. Said LGUs are hereby authorized to appropriate whatever amount is necessary from their available budgets for the promotion of the National Policy and Program of “Sports for All”, including a well-synchronized year-round calendar of sports activities and competitions culminating with the celebration of the Philippine Youth Games – Batang Pinoy in 1999.
Section 5. The PSC is hereby encouraged to solicit additional funding support for the Philippine Youth Games – Batang Pinoy from government and non-government organizations. The PSC shall extend the tax incentive pursuant to Section 20 of RA 6847 on donations and contributions.
Section 6. All concerned Non-Government Organizations, the Philippine Olympic Committee, concerned National Sports Associations are hereby encouraged to lend their cooperation to the program.
This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.
DONE, in the City of Manila, this 2nd day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Eight.1a⍵⍴h!1
(SGD.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(SGD.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Executive Secretary
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