Philippine’s grassroots sports program will be in full swing soon after the two chambers of Congress recently ratified a bicameral conference committee report.
The bicameral agreement, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1086 and House Bill No. 6312, seeks the establishment of National Academy of Sports (NAS), which will institutionalize an educational system within the framework of a national sustainable sports program.
NAS will be implementing a quality and an enhanced secondary education program with a special curriculum on sports.
This program will be geared towards the early recognition and development of students, especially of those who have shown potential to excel in the field of sports. The curriculum’s design will consider the students’ training needs while providing holistic quality education.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, one of the authors of the measure, said that in a bid to produce world-class Filipino athletes, NAS is a significant boost in the development of sports in the Philippines.
“Through the NAS, we are institutionalizing mechanisms, fundamentals and government support to instill excellence among our athletes who are sources of both national pride and unity for our country,” said Gatchalian.
“We want to support aspiring athletes at the earliest possible opportunities, so, we would look for those who have the potential and train them in world-class facilities,” the senator added.
“We are also giving importance on how these aspiring athletes can achieve academic excellence while preparing them for stellar performances in the world stage,” he further said.
Aside from Gatchalian, the measure’s other co-authors and co-sponsors are senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Pia Cayetano.
The bill eyes the establishment of the academy’s main campus at the existing New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac for the students. It will be constructed by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. The proposal also mandates the organization of future nationally-funded regional high schools for sports.
In close coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission, NAS will be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd). The incumbent secretary will be the chairperson of the academy’s Board of Trustees.
Meanwhile, an executive director, as appointed by the DepEd secretary, will head the NAS and will be responsible for the academy’s administration and operation.
The bill gives preference to an executive director who hails from the field of sports./PN
