WITH Season 87 already underway, UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag remains ready to come to the league’s defense on its modified residency rules for intra-league transfers.
Already in effect since June, a student-athlete who moves from one UAAP member-school to another will lose one year of eligibility on top of the original one year residency a transferee is required to serve.
READ: Sen. Cayetano insists new UAAP residency rule violates the law
A stern dissident of the updated guidelines is Sen. Pia Cayetano who authored Republic Act 10676 or the Student-Athletes Protection Act, which contains provisions on residency for high school and college student-athletes.
Section 4C of the aforementioned law defines the regulatory extents that leagues such as the UAAP and NCAA, among others. may implement.
- "In the case of a tertiary student-athlete transferring from one college or university to another, a maximum of one (1) year residency may be imposed by an athletic association before a student-athlete could participate and represent a school in any athletic competition."
In the case of the UAAP, the one-year residency rule per se remains unchanged.
But one playing year for student-athlete-transferees has now come at a price of two.
‘We respect the law’
While Cayetano reiterated the unlawfulness of ‘other forms of residency requirements,’ Saguisag made it clear that the UAAP’s update shouldn’t be viewed as a circumvention of existing laws.
"We don’t view it that way, but we perfectly understand and respect the (senator's) view. For one, from where the member-schools sit, it would help address the challenges of ‘rampant transfers’ that have been happening from the last couple of years,” Saguisag explained to SPIN.ph.
“Hindi naman siya necessarily circumvention. Hindi naman siya deliberately looking for the gray area. But one thing we can say is that we respect the law, and that's why we did not touch on residency.”
In Saguisag’s view, the UAAP drew the line by tweaking specifics on a student-athlete’s playing years rather than the residency requirement per se.
“There is a very big difference when you reduce the number of eligibility years as opposed to charging residency upfront. Because based on my experience, for any UAAP fan, I think the evidence is there that iba ‘yung umupo ka upfront ng two years. Malaki ‘yung epekto. Mas kakalawangin," he said.
Saguisag added: “And that is why we make a distinction, which we believe is substantial enough. And it's not necessarily a circumvention. It's maybe a deterrent also to give the member-schools some measure of protection.
Protecting, not punishing
Cayetano and even some UAAP member-schools raised a common contention to the modified policy: why penalize the student-athlete?
Saguisag, however, took the grand scheme of things into account and stressed how the best interests of the league, its member-schools, and its student-athletes remain paramount.
“Sabi nila, bakit parang it seems to be punishing the student-athlete. Pero it's not necessarily a punishment. Again, may mga hinaing din nga kasi ‘yung some of our members which needs to be protected,” said Saguisag.
“If severely matamaan ang isang programa, and then maapektuhan siya to the degree na maapektuhan ‘yung liga, then it will lead to a not-so-ideal environment for the student-athletes," he continued.
“Conversely, giving some measure of protection also to the interest of the member-schools will lead to a better UAAP as a collective, which will lead to an even better environment and platform for all our student-athletes.”
Another key point Saguisag stressed was how ‘spirited discussions’ among UAAP member-schools ensued before the revised rules took effect - which underscores how the league continues to evaluate new provisions it puts into place.
“But a study has been made. Discussions were made. Consultations were made from all the member-schools. For now, we will continue to evaluate the measures and ‘yun naman ang commitment namin.”
UAAP ‘open for discussions’ with Cayetano
Nothing is set in stone for the long-term even as the updated rule has already taken effect over the last three months.
But in light of Cayetano’s fervent opposition to the UAAP’s new measures, Saguisag guaranteed that the league is open to discuss its stance with the senator to possibly reach ‘an even more win-win solution’ for all involved.
“Ang maganda naman dito, and I keep on repeating, I opened the importance of open communication. Literally, UP as host and with their President, Atty. Jijil Jimenez, committed na while expressing their reservations on the said rule, will respect it,” said Saguisag.
“If we need to sit down with the good senator, then nandu’n siya to help facilitate the said discussions — not necessarily in the context of a Senate investigation dahil baka naman mapag-usapan," he furthered.
“Baka naman mag-iba rin ang pananaw ni Senator Pia and kami rin naman, we may come up with an even more win-win solution at ‘yun ‘yung importante — continuous efforts and commitment to be able to ensure that the interest and welfare of each of our student athletes are protected, enhanced, and improved.”
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