Sen. Pia Cayetano FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The head of the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, is threatening to pass a measure against the controversial residency rule of the University of Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) if the latter fails to come up with an “agreement” within two weeks.
“I’m very firm on that and when they can’t come up with an agreement within the next two weeks, then I will pass this law immediately. I will ask that this be expedited because it’s a violation of the human rights of the student-athletes,” Senator Pia Cayetano told reporters on Thursday.
“What we’re asking the universities and colleges to do is do your job. Self-regulate, come up with your own regulations and I will help you, I will honor you…I don’t need to pass a law for them to do that because if they will not do that then I will pass the law,” she said.
The agreement she was referring to pertains to the UAAP rule, which requires a student-athlete transferring to a member university to take a mandatory two-year residency before he or she can compete for the new school.
“I think malinaw na malinaw na yung two-year residency rule na yan is a bad rule but the only reason why it came about is because of this piracy issue na nangyayari, na yung mga schools na magagaling ang kanilang mga high school team ay kinukuha noong mga ibang university,” Cayetano said.
(I think it’s very clear that this two-year residency rule is a bad rule but the only reason why it came about is because of this piracy issue that’s happening, schools with a good high school team is being pirated by other universities.)
Senator Cynthia Villar also lambasted the UAAP during the hearing for imposing the residency rule, saying the association should reform itself without waiting for legislation from Congress.
“I can’t understand this two-year residency from high school to college because usually the students, they change schools when they go to college. I mean that’s a natural practice,” Villar said.
“…kasi parang monotonous naman yun. Ano ka ba naman, UST ka na from elementary to college. For me , that kind of education is not a well-rounded education. Yung iba nga, they attend yung puro girls school. But when they go to college, they want yung may boys kasi pag puro girls school ka baka mamaya masyado kang mahilig sa boys o matakot ka naman sa boys so that should not be taken against them…” she said.
Villar said the residency rule was wrong and the UAAP should do something to correct it.
“There’s something wrong with it. And I hope you will reform, you will make the reforms. You don’t have to wait for a legislation, kasi mga PHD nga kayo, katatalino nyo. You should understand this more than us kasi kami mga simpleng tao lang kami, wala kaming PHD,” she said.
“I think the reforms should come from you. It’s unfortunate we have to make a legislation for this. It’s unfortunate. I mean, you’re the most educated people in this country and you should understand this and you should discipline yourself. Don’t let Congress discipline you. It’s not good,” Villar added.
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