Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, during a Senate Committee on Sports hearing on Tuesday, August 27, called on young and aspiring student-athletes to pursue their potential in sports and explore opportunities available at the National Academy of Sports (NAS) at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Youth and on Sports, Go highlighted the role of sports in nation-building, particularly in molding the youth into productive citizens; teaching values such as discipline, sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie; providing opportunities for personal and economic development; and most importantly, grabbing the chance to bring honor to the country.
During the Senate Hearing of the Sports Committee where a post-evaluation of the Philippines’ participation in the Paris Olympics and other international competitions was conducted, Go discussed the need to promote all fields of sports where Filipinos have the potential to excel and develop future elite athletes.
Among these are weightlifting where Hidylyn Diaz won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2020 and gymnastics where Carlos Yulo recently won two Olympic Gold Medals — both of which are programs offered at NAS.
NAS Executive Director Joy Reyes presented a comprehensive report on the institution’s current status and challenges. Reyes highlighted the academy’s mandate under Republic Act No. 11470, which aims to develop young athletes by providing them with a quality secondary education integrated with specialized sports training.
Go played a key role in creating the NAS by authoring and co-sponsoring RA 11470. NAS combines secondary education with a sports-focused curriculum, offering a dual path for student-athletes to excel in their sports and academic endeavors.
The hearing highlighted critical issues, including the lack of student enrollment in weightlifting over the past three years and the limited participation in gymnastics, despite the sport’s increasing popularity.
“Sikat na sikat na po ngayon ang gymnastics dahil kay Carlos Yulo. Kumusta na po ang inyong gymnastics program? Tumaas ba ang interes?” Go inquired, who also drew attention to the lack of student enrollment in weightlifting over the past three years.
Despite the successes of national athletes in these fields, Reyes reported a startling statistic: “Unfortunately, for the past three school years, we don’t have any students in weightlifting.”
Reyes also acknowledged the limited enrollment in gymnastics, stating, “We started with four, and then right now… we have nine students who are admitted in gymnastics.”
She attributed the low numbers to ongoing construction at the gymnastics center, which is expected to be completed by the last quarter of 2025.
In her presentation, Reyes also outlined several challenges faced by NAS, including the need for more qualified coaches across various sports, especially in judo.
“We need coaches. That is what we need. Qualified coaches who can share, of course, kung ano man ‘yung pwede nilang maibigay in terms of training program,” Reyes explained.
She further detailed the difficulties in operating the academy’s programs, the dependency on ongoing construction for athletic facilities, and the need for continuous funding to support student-athletes’ participation in national and international competitions.
Meanwhile, representatives from various National Sports Associations also provided updates on their efforts to promote their sport to the youth and the challenges they face.
Alexander Sulit from the Philippine Judo Federation suggested the alignment of NAS’s training programs with those of the NSAs. He highlighted that parallel efforts should converge to achieve their shared goal of developing future Olympians. Reyes agreed, emphasizing the need for collaboration between NAS and the NSAs to ensure that student-athletes receive the best training and eventually integrate into national teams.
Throughout the hearing, the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and NSAs was a recurring theme. Go called for collective efforts to support athletes and further improve sports programs in the country.
“Pag nagtulungan tayo, nagtrabaho po ang gobyerno, pribadong sektor, NSA, POC, PSC, malayo po ang ating mararating,” he said.
Concluding the hearing, Go reminded all stakeholders: “Importante po na itaguyod po natin
