GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURE OF THE NATIONAL SCREENING AND

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE OF THE PALARONG PAMBANSA: A BASIS FOR

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

A. INTRODUCTION

The Palarong Pambansa is an annual multi-sport event involving learner-

athletes from 17 regions. Student-athletes from public and private schools at

elementary and secondary levels can compete provided they qualified by winning at

their regional meet. For young Filipino student-athletes, Palarong Pambansa is the

culmination of school sports competition, which start with local school intramurals,

followed by the district, division, and regional athletic meets. It aims to foster self-

discipline and teamwork, and excellence, among others.

Year 2013, the Palarong Pambansa was institutionalized through the

enactment of Republic Act 10588 (Palarong Pambansa Act). Article V, Section 13 of

RA 10588 mandates that National Screening and Accreditation Committee (NSAC)

will evaluate and verify the authenticity of the documents submitted by athletes,

coaches, and chaperons. Rule V of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of

Palarong Pambansa Act provided for the composition of the NSAC, its duties and

function, the rules on participation, eligibility of athletes, grounds for disqualification,

documentary requirements of athletes, coaches and chaperons, replacement of

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athletes, coaches and chaperons, procedure on protest on eligibility and appeals on

disqualification, and sanctions against athletes, technical officials and other persons.

NSAC aims to qualify learnes, coaches and chaperons who passed the

qualifications and none of the disqualifications set for the by Palaro Board. It intends

to abide with fairness as a learner with advanced age as compared to his/her

competitor has a substantial advantage. Moreover, learners who already joined non-

amateur competitions will be deemed automatically disqualified due to the perceived

advantage.

The current set of school sports competition already screen the qualifications

of individual players even at the school level. This ideally would already thresh out

unqualified athletes. However, for various reasons, unqualified athletes still qualify

for the higher school sports competition only to be disqualified in the Palarong

Pambansa due to disqualification such as age, lack of parental consent and

participation in professional competition.

Even in the strict implementation of the guidelines and procedures of NSAC,

instances of rampant impersonation are still rampant. NSAC instead of being an

avenue for ensuring to allow only qualified athletes, coaches and chaperons has

been plagued with suspicion due to the unscrupulous practice of coaches and other

school administrators of sending unqualified athletes just to win the competition.

The objective of this study is to analyze the current guidelines and procedures of

NSAC and streamline the required documents for the athletes, coaches and

chaperons. This will not only minimize the procedure a qualified participant has to go

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through but also lessen, if not, eliminate incidence of impersonation, fraud or deceits

employed to be qualified for the Palarong Pambansa.

B. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In a perfect world, documents submitted by athletes, coaches and chaperon

are authentic. However, some unscrupulous participants manage to engage

unqualified participants in the ploy to win the competition. The scheme of fielding

unqualified participants became the impetus in the creation of NSAC and its

inclusion in the Palarong Pambansa Act.

The researcher is one of the members of the NSAC and witness first-hand the

implementation of the policy. She observed that various documentary requirements

are asked from athletes, coaches and chaperons which is costly as well as time

consuming. The various required documents should be streamlined so as not to

inflict undue anxiety and take away valuable time from the athletes for their practice

game and other preparation.

The researcher endeavor to sustain and finish this research work to improve

the manner in which the policy is implemented and further improve the policy itself to

address actual situation which may not be explicitly provided in the policy. The

researcher is also passionate about this study because improving the policy

implementation would not only benefit the NSAC, the Palarong Pambansa, but most

especially the athletes and other stakeholders.

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 C. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to determine and identify the gaps and inadequacy of the

implementing rules and regulations of the Palarong Pambansa Act, particularly Rule

V and other policies related to screening and accreditation of athletes, coaches and

chaperons. The study will seek to answer the following questions:

1. What are the necessary documents required to establish the qualification of

athletes, coaches and chaperons?

2. What are the indispensable documentary requirements the needs to be

submitted by the athletes, coaches and chaperons?

3. What are the documentary requirements that can be dispensed with for the

effective and efficient implementation of the policy?

4. What are the challenges and issues faced by technical officials in screening

and accreditation of athletes, coaches and chaperons?

5. What are the policy recommendation can be provided to improve the

screening and accreditation of athletes, coaches and chaperons?

D. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. Identify the gaps, limitation and inadequacy of the existing guidelines.

2. Categorize the indispensable documentary requirements that must be

submitted to establish qualification.

3. Determine the challenges in the implementation of the policy.
4. Propose policy recommendation to improve the screening and accreditation of

athletes, coaches and chaperons.

E. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

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 This study aims to benefits the stakeholders involved in the Palarong

Pambansa and other lower meets, these includes but not limited to the learner-

athletes, technical officials, and public and private school administrator. It is related

to the technical officials and participants in the Palarong Pambansa since an

approval from the NSAC is prerequisite in fielding in the Palarong Pambansa.

Learner-athletes can be assured of unnecessary stress of securing all

documentary requirements once they are accredited by the NSAC. Accreditation is

proposed to be valid for a period of five year which spare the learner-athletes of

repeating the process every year.

Technical officials, which includes the coaches, chaperons, tournament

managers would also benefits from this study since streamlining the accreditation

would give them ample opportunities to focus on the main goals of their roles in the

Palarong Pambansa.

Public schools administrators which includes the principal, supervisors,

superintendents, including officials from the regional and central office of the

Department of Education would also benefits from this study because it would allow

them to save government resources and maximize the limited time devoted for the

preparation and implementation of the Palarong Pambansa.

Likewise, private schools administrators would benefit from the study because

they won’t be with the bureaucratic system of accrediting their athletes.

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 F. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

The research focuses of the policy implementation of the Implementing Rules

and Regulations of the Palarong Pambansa Act, particularly Rule V and other related

issuances related thereto. Qualitative method was used in conducting the study, data

will be gathered through structured interview with the athletes, coaches and

chaperons.

The technical officials involved in NSAC will also be interviewed to identify

the challenges and issues they faced in the implementation of the policy. Analysis of

the data collected by the technical officials will be used to identify which information

can be dispensed with in the effective and efficient implementation of the policy. At

the same time, these data will be evaluated in order to identify essential information

which are indispensable in the effective and efficient implementation of the policy.

G. METHODOLOGY

This study is guided by the following methods of analysis to aid in the

improvement of the policy and formulate recommendation:

1. Documents and review analysis. The following relative issuance would be

reviewed to determine their effectiveness and efficiency. Further, these would

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 be reviewed to determine possible loopholes and deficiencies in the

implementation of the Palarong Pambansa.

- Republic Act No. 10588, or the Palarong Pambansa Act
- Rule V of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Palarong

Pambansa Act
- DepEd Order No. 49 s. 2018, Constitution of the National Screening

and Accreditation Committee for the 2018 Palarong Pambansa

2. Key-informant interview. The following will be interviewed to determine the

formulation, implementation and assess the effectiveness of screening and

accreditation of the Palarong Pambansa:

a. Technical officials

b. Learner-athletes

c. Coaches and chaperons

d. Public schools administrators

e. Private schools administrators

Technical officials and these participants in the Palarong Pambansa would be

interviewed in order to get their feedback and submissions in the

implementation of the policy. Interview could be an opulent source of

information since the key-informant are directly affected in the implementation

of this program and can well better understand how to go about in

streamlining the procedures.

3. SWOT analysis. The NSAC strengths and opportunities available shall be

determined in accomplishing its mandate. Its weakness and threats, on the

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 other hand shall be identify to determine the issues and challenges in the

implementation of the policy.

H. DEFINITION OF TERMS
 Screening

The method used in determining the qualification of athletes based on age

eligibility, fitness, qualifying lower meets participation, parental consent,

manner of evaluation and verification of the documentary requirements

submitted.

 Accreditation

The act of giving official recognition and approval to the participation of the

athlete, coaches and chaperons in the Palarong Pambansa after evaluation

and verification of documentary requirements and undergoing screening

procedure.

 Athletes

A learner enrolled in public or private institution who is trained and skilled to

compete for the Palarong Pambansa and other lower meets.

 Lower meets

School sports competition which includes district, cluster, division and regional

meets which leads to the Palarong Pambansa.

 Coaches

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Person who instructs and directs the athletes relative to the sports

participated in. For the purposes of this research, the term includes assistant

coaches.

 Chaperons

A female companion who accompanies the female athletes and ensuring their

welfare. Chaperons are essential specially when the coach is male and

athlete is female.

 Palarong Pambansa

The country’s premier sporting event which involve participants from across

the country who have earn the title to participate in the event because of win

in the lower meets.

 Lower meets

School sports activities starting from the school level, division level, and

regional level.

 Palarong Pambansa Board

The lead policy-making and coordinating body for the preparation and

conduct of the Palarong Pambansa and other related school sports related

school sports activities leading to the Palarong Pambansa. The Board is

attached to the Department of Education.

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 Learners Reference Number

Unique reference number assigned to a learner enrolled in basic education

course.

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 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter discusses some of the theoretical perspectives and concepts

that are relevant to this research and shows the framework on how to proceed with

the research to attain its objectives.

I. Theoretical Perspectives

The United Nations (UN) has been using sport as a tool in development

cooperation and humanitarian aid efforts for decades. In recent years, UN programs,

funds and specialized agencies have increasingly recognized and harnessed the

power of sport to achieve their objectives.

The UN system draws on the unique convening power of sport as a tool for

fundraising, advocacy and raising public awareness about the activities and

objectives of the UN.

Different international organizations are in charge in the implementation of

sports development and each organizations has own technical rules on qualifying

athletes.

On the local landscape, Republic Act No. 10588 (RA 10588) or the Palarong

Pambansa Act of 2013 was enacted to institutionalized Palarong Pambansa as the

premier sporting event of the country, also as a venue for talent identification,

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selection and recruitment of student athletes. Way before the passage of RA 10588,

Palarong Pambansa is already an annual sporting event.

While the law recognizes the need to promote sports development, it also

needs to safeguard the premier event from deceitful participation and cunning

dishonesty which cast doubts to the integrity of the competition. Article V of the RA

10588 establishes the eligibility and accreditation requirement before the actual

participation in the Palarong Pambansa.

II. Conceptual Framework

The present study uses the Input-Process-Output framework as shown below:

Input Process Output

FEEDBACK

Inputs

The current guidelines and procedures in the screening and accreditation of

athletes in the Palarong Pambansa, as well as relevant issuances are taken into

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consideration in this research. While the guidelines and procedures are in place,

confusion in the implementation of the letters and intent of the procedures are

rampant.

Process

The procedure in the screening and accreditation of athletes must start from

the lower meet. In order to fully implement RA 10588, all the stakeholders must take

part in the faithful compliance with the process. The goal of the screening and

accreditation committee is to qualify athletes, coaches and chaperons and at the

same time promote sports development and safeguard the integrity of the sports

competition.

Outputs

The research aims to streamline the guidelines and procedures for the

accreditation and screening of athletes, coaches and chaperons; eradicated deceitful

and fraudulent participation and maintain the integrity of the Palarong Pambansa.

This research also aims to improve policy implementation and interpretation of each

stakeholders involved in lower meets leading to the Palarong Pambansa.

Feedback

The feedback of this research would be used to address ways and means to

improve the policy both for the benefit of stakeholders, policy implementers and the

government.

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 CHAPTER III

Declaration of Policy as provided in Republic Act No. 10588 or the Palarong

Pambansa Act of 2013 provides that:

It is the policy of the state 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 trough the institution of the Palarong Pambansa as

the country’s premier national sporting event.

Hence, it shall be declared policy of the state to support

programs that will improve and promote the Palarong Pambansa as

the primary avenue for providing in-school sports opportunities to

improve the physical, intellectual and social well-being of the youth.

All educational institutions are therefore directed to promote physical

education and undertake regular sports activities as well as support

the local meets and the Palarong Pambansa.

In order to fully implement this declared policy, it is but incumbent upon policy

makers and implementers to see to it that the country’s premier sporting event is free

from fraudulent participations which taint the integrity of the competition. Therefore, a

provision relative to the screening and accreditation of athletes, coaches and

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chaperons applying for accreditation was provided under Article V of the Palarong

Pambansa Act. Relevant provision provides:

ARTICLE V

ELIGIBILITY AND ACCREDITATION

SEC. 13. The National Screening and Accreditation Committee

(NSAC). – The Board shall constitute the NSAC that will evaluate

and verify the authenticity of the documents submitted by the

athletes, coaches and chaperones applying for accreditation. The

NSAC shall accredit qualified athletes, coaches and chaperones and

shall submit a masterlist to the Board at least two (2) months before

the Palarong Pambansa.

SEC. 14. Composition of the NSAC. – The NSAC shall be composed

of the following:

(a) Representative from the DepED Legal Division;

(b) Two (2) government physicians;

(c) Two (2) government dentists; and

(d) Authorized representative from each RAA.

SEC. 15. Protests on Eligibility and Appeals on Disqualification. –

The Board shall issue guidelines on the process of addressing

protests and appeals on its decisions concerning the eligibility or

disqualification of athletes, coaches and chaperones: Provided, That

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 all protests and appeals must be resolved with finality within thirty

(30) days from receipt thereof.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Palarong Pambansa

Act further elaborated under Rule V thereof the National Screening and

Accreditation Committee, its composition, duties and functions, rules on

participation, eligibility of athletes, ground for disqualification, documentary

requirements both of athletes, coaches and chaperons, the procedure in

replacement of athletes, coaches and chaperons, protest on eligibility and

appeals on disqualification and sanctions against athletes, technical officials

and other persons.

The Palarong Pambansa Board each year issues the Constitution of

the National Screening and Accreditation Committee, enclosed with it is the

guidelines and procedures for the conduct of the screening and accreditation.

Every year, each athlete participating in the lower meet and Palarong

Pambansa is required to submit documentary requirements such as:

1. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) authenticated birth certificate;

in case of foreign born, documents from the Department of Foreign

Affairs or Bureau of Immigration stating Filipino citizenship;

2. Learner’s permanent academic records;
3. Certificate of enrollment;
4. Certificate of completion;
5. Medical records;
6. Dental records;
7. Parental consent.

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 On the other hand, coaches are required to the submit the following

documents in order to participate in the lower meets and Palarong

Pambansa:

1. Relevant sports training

2. Relevant experience
3. Track record of participations, in division and regional meet;
4. Educational and professional background;
5. Membership of any related sports association;
6. License or certifications/accreditation issued by National/International

Sports Association, authorized organization or by the Department of

Education;
7. Medical records;
8. Employment/appointment paper or contract of service;
9. In case of chaperons, statement of commitment.

These vast requirements are asked every year, and each year,

participants needs to prove their qualifications. These time consuming

process not only burdens the participant but the policy implementers as well.

Government fund is used in order to achieve these purpose.

The research proposes that since the Department of Education has

means to obtained the data collected from the participants. It is quite ironic to

require all these documents when in fact, most of these documents are

required during enrollment. While the data are scattered in different office of

the Department, policy makers and implementers may look into the existing

resources to collate and manage these data for the Palarong Pambansa. The

existing Learner Reference Number which is managed by the Department of

Education and implemented through DepEd Order 22, s. 2012 entitled

Adoption of the Unique Learner Reference Number (LRN) may integrated in

the screening and accreditation of athletes. The LRN is attached to the

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learner until he/she completed the basic education course, thus every details

of which may be used by the Department in determining whether the athlete

participant is indeed the person representing to be himself.

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