By Genalyn Kabiling and Mario Casayuran
The Philippines could develop more world-class athletes in the coming years with the planned establishment of a new sports academy, Malacañang declared Wednesday.
Republic Act No. 11470 that seeks to establish the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in New Clark City (NCC), Capas, Tarlac was signed by President Duterte in Davao City last June 9.
“The Philippines has demonstrated that we can be on par with our neighbors in the region in terms of sports,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement Wednesday.
“With PRRD’s (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) signing of RA 11470, we are confident that we will be able to raise our student-athletes’ competitiveness in the field of sports and produce world-class athletes in the years to come,” he added.
Under the new law, Roque said the sports academy is mandated to implement a quality and enhanced secondary education program integrated with a special curriculum on sports. The law also seeks the establishment of a nationally funded regional high schools for sports.
“We consider this a good follow-through to our country’s hosting of the 2019 South East Asian Games, where the Philippines emerged as the over-all leader in the medal tally,” he said.
“We laud our lawmakers from both Houses of Congress for making sure that this piece of legislation will be passed into law, ” he added.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate sports committee, today thanked President Duterte for signing into law Republic Act (RA) 11470 that would establish the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in a simple ceremony in Davao City yesterday.
Go explained that with the establishment of the NAS in very close proximity to world-class facilities in New Clark City, student-athletes can enjoy a level of training which is at par with the best in the world and at the same time be given quality education.
“As the Chairman of the Committee on Sports, I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow legislators for coming together in support of this measure for the benefit of our youth and for the benefit of Philippine sports,” he said.
Go also emphasized that the support of President Duterte and his vision of providing the youth with better opportunities to develop into productive citizens of society through sports were crucial in the passage of the said measure.
“I also would like to thank the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for their commitment that allowed us to hit the ground running once this measure is signed by President Duterte,” Go acknowledged in a speech he delivered during a Senate session last month.
The NAS will develop and implement a secondary education program, integrated with a special curriculum on sports, targeting young Filipinos with the talent and desire to develop further their sporting skills. Full scholarship will be offered to qualified natural-born secondary school students.
Among others, the law requires that the main campus of the NAS shall be established at the existing New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.
It shall be equipped with the necessary sports facilities, housing, and other amenities according to current international standards. School buildings with sufficient number of classrooms and facilities shall also be constructed at the complex.
The academy will be attached to DepEd, in close coordination with the PSC, tasked to develop the athletic skills and talents of students in world-class facilities at par with international standards.
In addition to honing the students, the board of the academy will also be allowed to approve the hiring of licensed foreign coaches, trainers and consultants duly certified as necessary by PSC. This is to ensure the international competitiveness of the students.
“With this landmark measure, the Philippines can produce more world-class Filipino athletes who are well-educated and well-rounded, with a strong sense of patriotism and love of country,” Go stressed.
