A HOUSE bill banning minors in full-contact sports will create a “total mess” and may end up killing the country’s martial arts program, a UST coach said.
UST Lady Judokas head coach Gerard Peter Arce hit House Bill No. 1526, which imposes fines from P50,000 to P200,000.
Events listed under full-contact sports are boxing, mixed martial arts, jujutsu, Muay Thai, judo and various forms of full-contact karate.
“Mahirap ito para sa lahat ng sports na sakop nito kasi parang you’re killing the sport itself,” Arce told the Varsitarian.
The bill seeks to prohibit sports organizations, associations and event organizers from conducting and engaging the participation of minors in full-contact sports competitions.
It will also prevent schools, sports education institutions, and parents from encouraging, authorizing or consenting to the participation of minors in such events.
“For us coaches, it would be hard to create a formidable team kasi wala kang hinahasa habang bata and it will ruin the grassroots program of all sports, not only sa UAAP and NCAA but also [at the] national [level],” said Arce, who steered the UST judo team to five straight UAAP titles.
Ako Bicol representatives Alfredo Garbin, Jr. and Elizaldy Co introduced the bill, which cited “the paramount need to protect the minors.”
Committee hearings for the bill will start on Dec. 9. R.B.R. Fuertes Jr., N.A.M. Cruz
