The eight member schools of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) have approved a revised rule on eligibility for student-athletes transferring from one member school to another at the collegiate level.
The rule change was announced by Atty. Rebo Saguisag, the league’s executive director, during the UAAP Season 87 press conference held at the Novotel on Wednesday.
Under the new rule, student-athletes transferring from one UAAP school to another will still need to sit out one year, as previously mandated.
However, they will now lose two years of eligibility instead of just one.
This rule will be implemented starting in the 2024-25 school year across all sports.
“The UAAP, as a collegial body, decided that any transfer made after the academic year 2023-2024, aside from the usual residency requirement – from school to school, member school to member school – will be charged a residency period, and that said residency will be considered as an eligibility year. But instead of just one, it will now be two,” said Atty. Saguisag.
“In simpler terms, the residency period will remain the same, but only the playing years of the transferee will be affected.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
This change means that a UAAP freshman who transfers to a different member school will have only two remaining playing years at their new university.
On the other hand, a sophomore will have only one remaining year to play for their new school if they decide to transfer.
When reports about this rule surfaced last June, Senator Pia Cayetano expressed concerns that it could hinder the personal development of student-athletes. The senator is the author of the Student-Athletes Protection Act.
Saguisag, however, stated that the league is prepared to “defend” its revised rule, emphasizing that they always consider the welfare of student-athletes when implementing such policies.
“We’re ready to defend it if called upon. However, that is the beauty and gift of democracy; everyone has their own views and perspectives, and we understand and respect where she’s coming from if she views it as, I think the term is circumvention,” he said.
“However, let me state for the record that all of us in this room agree that the welfare of each and every student-athlete is of paramount importance. There is no question about that,” he continued, with the Board of Managing Directors and men’s and women’s basketball head coaches all present at the venue.
