BILANG pagkilala sa isa sa pinakapopular na laro sa bansa, inaprubahan ng Kamara ang House Bill No. 8268 ang panukala na magdedeklara sa buwan ng Abril bilang National Basketball Month.

Sa botong 272 pabor, inaprubahan ng Kamara ang panukala bilang pagkilala sa ambag nito sa kulturang Pilipino at lipunan gayundin ang pagsusulong nito ng pisikal na aktibidad at healthy lifestyle.

“We would like to institutionalize the annual celebration of National Basketball Month in all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to promote basketball in the local government units and educational institutions,” sabi ni Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez “This would be possible through the conduct of local and national basketball tournaments as a venue for talent identification, selection, and recruitment of student-athletes with the coordination of various government agencies.”

“No less than our Constitution mandates that the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry,” dagdag pa ng Leyte 1st district solon “So it is just appropriate that we support

programs that will promote team sports such as basketball which is deemed to be the most popular sport in the country.”

Ilan sa mga may-akda ng panukala sina Reps. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III, Charisse Anne Hernandez, PM Vargas, Richard Gomez, Eric Buhain, Jeyzel Victoria Yu, Francisco Paolo Ortega V, David Suarez, Franz Pumaren, Erwin Tieng, Salvador Pleyto, at Manuel Dalipe.

Sa ilalim ng panuakala, ang Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), katuwang ang Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Games and Amusements Board (GAB), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), at kaukulang National Sports Association (NSA), ang maglalatag at magpapatupad ng taunang programa at aktibidad.

Kabilang sa isang buwang pagdiriwang ang pagdaraos ng mga basketball event para sa lahat ng edad sa mga lokal na parke at community centers sa buong bansa; inter-barangay basketball leagues o friendly games; libreng basketball training, coaching, at kompetisyon; exhibition o demonstration games ng mga professional players; paralympic basketball para sa mga may kapansanan at para-athletes; pakikibahagi ng mga kababaihan sa basketball; viewing parties para sa major basketball games; at virtual basketball sports o

e-basketball sports.