By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
President Rodrigo Duterte already signed the National Academy of Sports Act on Wednesday, which aims to prepare the future athletes of the country on a long-term basis via a secondary education program.
Senators Bong Go and Sherwin Gatchalian were the first to disseminate the good news on their social media accounts and were also the authors of the bill together with senators Pia Cayetano, Sonny Angara, Francis Tolentino, Migz Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Ronald Dela Rosa, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, and Bong Revilla Jr.
Last month, the country’s grassroots sports development program was an inch away after both chambers of the Congress ratified it and was forwarded to the president for the final signing.
With the NAS already signed, future enrollees should be natural-born Filipino citizens with immense potential in sports and will be on a full-scholarship basis.
NAS will be partnering with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and will have to work hand-in-hand with both organizations.
The birth of NAS will also give way for the establishment of the academy’s main campus at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac which will be done by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
