TWO prominent lady lawmakers have now condemned the UAAP's decision to create a pay gap for referees officiating men's and women's basketball games this season.
Sen. Pia Cayetano and House assistant minority leader Rep. Sarah Elago of Gabriela Women's Party have voiced out their displeasure following reports of the discrepancy of pay given to those refereeing these seniors matches, stating this violates Republic Act 9710.
READ: UAAP doubles down on 'tiered system' for referees' pay
Also known as the Philippine Magna Carta of Women (MCW), this law seeks to eliminate discrimination against women and promote gender equality.
“Referees carry out the same duties, regardless of whether they officiate men’s or women’s games. To claim otherwise demeans women’s sports and reinforces harmful stereotypes that the Magna Carta of Women seeks to eliminate. It discourages officiating in women’s basketball and undermines gender equality instead of advancing it,” said Cayetano.
“This discriminatory practice also goes against our labor laws, which uphold the principle of equal pay for equal work. Equal pay is not optional. It is the law,” she furthered in a statement.
Elago also said, "Let’s not shortchange women’s game—pay referees fairly."
"Paying women’s games less reinforces the harmful message that women’s sports—and women themselves—are worth less,” she added.
They join the outcry from athletes and fans alike who indicated that the setup puts the women’s game as a somewhat of a lesser priority and a stepping stone for the men’s game.
EJ Obiena also speaks out
Even Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena voiced out his disapproval on the matter.
"All games are important for university's overall standings, therefore it's all equally valuable. Every possession, every jump, and every point. This regress devalues games and contradicts fairness and challenges the integrity of the sport," he said.
Spin.ph reported the pay gap for this season, with referees overseeing men's games being paid P3,000 per game, P2,500 for boys', and P2,000 for women's and girls. It's a step down from the prior seasons where officials are given P2,500 across all divisions.
Players and coaches were quick to balk on the notion, even if the UAAP has already released a statement promising that "we will still maintain a tiered system, we will ensure that there will be no diminution of fees across all divisions from previous seasons."
These tiers, however, were not clarified.
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