ABRA Lone District Rep. Joseph “JB” Bernos on Thursday expressed support for calls to correct the pay disparity between referees officiating in the UAAP men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, describing it as a matter of fairness and respect not just for officials but for women’s basketball as a whole.
“As a lawmaker, I believe equal pay for equal work is a basic principle that should never be compromised,” said Bernos.
“At bilang basketball fan naman, at isang proud supporter ng Abra Weavers, tingin ko panahon na rin para kilalanin na ang women’s basketball ay dapat bigyan ng parehong respeto at suporta gaya ng men’s basketball.”
Reports revealed that referees in the UAAP men’s division are paid ₱3,000 per game, while those officiating in the women’s division receive only ₱2,000.
Bernos said that this disparity “sends the wrong signal about the value of women’s sports,” when in fact women’s basketball in the Philippines has grown tremendously in recent years.
“Kung napanood mo ang women’s basketball—sa UAAP, NCAA, o kahit sa international tournaments—kitang-kita mo ang husay at puso na ibinubuhos nila sa laro. Wala namang pinagkaiba sa laro ng lalaki. Kaya di ko maintindihan kung bakit masmababa ang sahod ng mga ref sa women’s tournament ng UAAP,” lamented Bernos.
The Abra lawmaker said equal pay is not only consistent with labor principles and gender equality under the Magna Carta of Women, but is also vital to strengthening the future of the sport.
“Bilang taga-Abra, hindi ko maiwasang maalala si Gabriela Silang—isang babaeng mandirigma na ipinaglaban ang dangal at karapatan ng ating mga kababayan. In the same spirit, ang laban para sa pantay na pagtrato sa women’s basketball ay laban para sa dignidad at pagkakapantay-pantay ng lahat,” Bernos said.
“Kung gusto talaga nating lumago pa ang women’s basketball, dapat alisin ang mga hadlang na bumababa sa tingin sa kanila. Nagsisimula ’yan sa pagrespeto sa lahat ng nasa laro—mula players hanggang referees—at siguraduhing pantay ang pagtrato sa kanila,” he added.
Bernos urged the UAAP and other sports organizations to immediately review their policies and ensure that compensation structures uphold fairness, equality, and justice.
