Bill seeks to establish fitness center in every barangay

Photo by Robert Viñas / PCOO

MANILA — A lawmaker wants to promote the well-being and health of the Filipino citizens by creating community fitness centers in all barangays nationwide.

Rep. Mark Villar (Lone District, Las Piñas City) introduced House Bill 4316 to involve all Filipino citizens in maintaining good physical and mental health condition.

“The collective health of the people affects to a great extent the success of their overall socio-economic development. The state of health and mental fitness of every person are controlling factors on the ability to take advantage of education, technical capabilities and business entrepreneurship,” Villar said.

Villar filed the bill citing the constitutional mandate for 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.

Under the measure, a community fitness center in every barangay nationwide shall be established under the supervision of the municipal or city health officer.

Free seminars to would-be physical fitness leaders and trainors in the barangays shall be provided.

Upon the recommendation of the local health board of the municipality or city where the fitness center is located, a full time fitness coordinator with a monthly compensation of not less than Php10,000, shall be appointed to manage the center.

The fitness coordinator shall formulate criteria for the selection of qualified individuals for training and accreditation as physical fitness instructors in the center.

Among others, the fitness coordinator shall also introduce and implement varied physical fitness and sports competition within the barangay; conduct consultation with the residents of the barangay in identifying any physical fitness activity and sports program that shall be implemented by the center; oversee and ensure the continuous and effective implementation of the activities and program undertaken by the center; and, disseminate proper information on the policy and objective of the physical fitness and sports activities to encourage the active participation of all the residents of the barangay.