Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has filed a measure in the Senate seeking to expand the reach of the National Academy of Sports (NAS) by establishing regional campuses in the Visayas and Mindanao, with the goal of ensuring inclusive access to quality education and sports training for aspiring athletes nationwide.
Filed at the start of the 20th Congress, Go’s proposed legislation titled “National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025” aims to institutionalize the establishment of NAS campuses in all administrative regions of the country which is in accordance with the existing law.
The senator, who is also one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act No. 11470 which created the NAS in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, emphasized that the centralization of the NAS limits opportunities for student-athletes in the regions.
In the explanatory note attached to the bill, Go cited the 1987 Constitution as the guiding foundation for the proposal: “Article 14, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution mandates that the State to 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.”
The senator explained that while the NAS has become a key institution for nurturing athletic talent, its current structure geographically limits access to the full spectrum of young and promising student-athletes outside Luzon.
“The National Academy of Sports has since played a pivotal role in nurturing homegrown talent and empowering the next generation of sports champions by combining excellence in both academics and sports. However, the current centralized structure of the NAS limits its reach and accessibility, particularly for promising student-athletes from Visayas and Mindanao,” Go stated.
“This gap in access hampers the goal of inclusive national sports development, and overlooks the untapped potential across our regions,” he added.
Under the proposed measure, new NAS campuses will be integrated into the existing NAS system established by RA 11470. These campuses will serve as regional centers of excellence in sports education and will offer full scholarships to natural-born Filipino citizens with demonstrated potential in sports.
The bill specifies that each campus will follow the same academic and athletic curriculum as the main NAS campus.
According to the bill: “The proposed measure aims to fill this gap by institutionalizing the regionalization of the NAS system and establishing campuses in all regions. The objective is to decentralize access to quality sports education and development, provide equal opportunities to aspiring student-athletes across the country, and strengthen inclusive participation in the national sports pipeline.”
As stated in Section 4 of the bill: “Such campus may be existing sports academies under the Department of Education (DepEd) or locally funded high schools for sports that are strategically located to ensure the admission of qualified students from all sectors, including indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.”
Furthermore, the proposed NAS campuses will be equipped with the necessary sports facilities and educational infrastructure. The DepEd, in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), will be tasked with upgrading these facilities to comply with the standards of the NAS System.
“This initiative aims to promote equitable access to quality sports education and training, nurture athletic talent across all regions, and ensure inclusive national development through sports,” concluded Go.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and the sponsor of the sports budget in the Senate, Go has been instrumental in securing support for the country’s sports development. He advocated for the repair and improvement of key sports facilities, such as the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila and Philsports Arena in Pasig City, believing that providing athletes with proper training environments, equipment, nutrition, and mental support is essential for their success.
Go has also continuously pushed for an increased budget for sports programs to significantly improve Filipino athletes’ preparation, training, and competitive performance on the international stage while launching effective programs to cultivate the talents of young and aspiring sports enthusiasts at the grassroots level.
As Chairperson of the Senate Youth Committee, Go continues to urge government to prioritize sports engagement among citizens, not only for elite athletes but also for aspiring youth athletes, especially at the grassroots.
“As I always remind our youth, get into sports, stay away from illegal drugs to keep us healthy and fit!” he said earlier.