Indigenous Peoples and Persons with Disabilities should be afforded equal opportunities in the field of sports, said Senator Francis Tolentino.
During the sponsorship of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on the Senate Bill No. 1086, also known as “The Philippine High School for Sports Act of 2019,” Tolentino stressed how underappreciated the two sectors are in sports.
“Do we have space form our Lumad? The Aetas? Those from Kalinga and the PWDs here in our proposed measure to have sports high school or will just this be an elitist school?” asked Tolentino
“’Yung mga walang sapatos baka naman hindi na makapunta na o baka ma-discriminate sila,” he also said.
He stressed it is about time that IPs and PWDs are supported.
Tolentino also cited the Republic Act 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1987 and the Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, underscoring the need in giving the IPs and PWDs equal treatment and a fair chance to thrive in the society.