ATHLETIC associations, schools, boosters, student-athletes, and fans, read up.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has released the Policies and Guidelines on Student-Athletes Protection through CHED Memorandum Order No. 13, Series of 2026, dated 01 June 2026 (the CMO for brevity).
With student-athlete protection and welfare making headlines the last two months, this is a welcome development. It’s even more timely as it gives more meat to the Student-Athlete Protection Act, which celebrates its 11th anniversary next month.
So, what does this CMO talk about? And how does it affect student-athletes moving forward?
Student-Athlete Eligibility
First, the CMO defines what a student-athlete is:
1. A student with a minimum full-time curricular load of 12 units per semester or 9 units per term on a trimester (this doesn’t apply for graduating students),
2. An academic standing of 60 percent passing rate in courses from the previous semester, and
3. Official communication from the school that confirms his or her inclusion in the student-athletes roster for athletic programs.
The CMO also helpfully explains when student-athlete status is either suspended or lost.
Section 12 talks about suspension. A student-athlete who plays in non-sanctioned competitions or without the permit of the school suspends his or her student-athlete status. It’s similar to the “ligang-labas” rules of professional contracts. Get permission first before playing elsewhere.
Section 13 is important, as it enumerates when a student-athlete loses amateur or student-athlete status completely. One loses his or her own student-athlete status upon:
1. Executing any contract to play professional with local or international associations, or
2. As determined by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) guidelines.
Previously, athletic associations had the discretion to determine their own eligibility rules, sometimes putting to vote whether a certain player could suit up or not. Now, the CMO makes it explicit. As long as the student-athlete has executed any contract to play professionally, then he or she loses student-athlete status and eligibility to play in the athletic association.
Note the wording on that one: it doesn’t matter if the student-athlete actually played professionally. It’s the execution of the professional contract that matters. (It reminds me of a certain student-athlete transferee who had the exact same issue a few years ago.)
Commercialization Finally Explained
The CMO also finally tells us what “commercialization” of student-athletes really means. Remember that the SAPA [Student Athletes Protection Act] was passed to protect student-athletes from commercialization, but it didn’t exactly define “commercialization." Instead, it listed the allowable benefits and incentives that schools, athletic associations, and other concerned stakeholders can provide student-athletes. (We’ve talked about these benefits before here.)
This list is reiterated in Section 15, with the additional call on athletic associations to finally come up with a standardized amount for allowable living allowances for student-athletes.
Section 16 of the CMO mandates that all the benefits and incentives should now be clearly stipulated in an official document issued by the school, like a Student-Athlete Handbook. Section 16 is good because it makes these benefits and incentives more transparent.
Under Section 17 of the CMO, commercialization is now considered anything beyond the allowable benefits and incentives. Section 18 gives helpful examples of acts or practices that are considered commercialization:
1. Excessive cash allowances or stipends beyond what is reasonably necessary for educational, training, or living expenses,
2. Lavish gifts or incentives, like high-value gadgets or luxury items,
3. Luxury housing or accommodations and personal vehicles not ordinarily available to other students,
4. Unjustified academic exemptions, automatic passing grades, or unauthorized privileges inconsistent with academic standards or procedures, and
5. Preferential treatment like priority access to resources or services that create inequity with the general student population.
As Section 18 merely gives examples, this enumeration is not exclusive. Read the examples carefully. Note that aside from the obvious monetary and material benefits, (signing bonuses are prohibited!) the list also includes non-commercial incentives that schools are prohibited from extending to its athletes.
Sure-pass in a tough subject because NCAA champion? That’s commercialization. Special tutoring sessions by the professor because UAAP basketball star? That’s commercialization too.
Student-athletes are still allowed to get their own commercial endorsements. As noted before, the SAPA is silent and allows student-athletes to cash in on their NIL. However, Section 19 of the CMO now states that any commercial endorsements must have the written consent of both the student-athlete and his or her parents.
Roles and Responsibilities
The CMO outlines the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved: the CHED, athletic associations and other individuals and organizations which conduct inter-school athletic programs, even student-athletes (spoiler: prioritize studying).
Given recent events though, it’ll be good to focus on the roles and responsibilities of schools.
The CMO mandates that team managers must execute a contract with the school outlining the duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities of both the team manager and the school. This is helpful, as a signed contract makes things more formal and finally clears the actual role and responsibility of the team manager. Is he or she there merely to finance the team? Or fix the logistics of events? This must now all be answered in the contract.
Schools must now also have clear, written protocols, and guidelines to address student-athletes’ injuries and deaths. The importance of these protocols goes without saying, especially in light of the tragic events in Aurora last June.
CHED mandates schools to quickly ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved if any accidents or unfortunate events happen to a student-athlete. A complete report must also be submitted to the CHED, including medical records, witness accounts, police reports, and other steps taken to prevent similar incidents. Again, this comes from the need for transparency and accountability.
Schools must also provide insurance for all its student-athletes and even conduct exit interviews whenever student-athletes plan to leave the school.
Speaking of leaving, the CMO reiterates the SAPA by making it illegal to retaliate against student-athletes who wish to leave the school. Illegal acts include requiring the payment of tuition fees which had been covered by a granted scholarship or the refusal to release grades, school records, or clearances.
Reporting Mechanism for Violations with the CHED
Violations of the CMO can be reported to the CHED by student-athletes (their parents too!) or affected schools.
School officials, athletic directors, coaches, administrators, and even alumni can be held liable, again echoing the penal provisions of the SAPA. Penalties for erring schools range from suspension in participating in the relevant athletic association and/or a fine ranging from P100,000 to P1,000,000. Hence, CHED can theoretically suspend a school from joining the UAAP or the NCAA.
Again, the CMO is timely given the circumstances. But to be truthful, it is also painfully late.
Hopefully, the CMO prevents tragic events from happening moving forward. But the onus is now on athletic associations, schools, its administrators, alumni, and backers.
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