National Academy of Sports a step away for PH

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Lawmakers who pushed for the strengthening of the country’s grassroots sports development program with the main aim of establishing a National Academy of Sports is just an inch away from reality.

After Senator Sonny Angara filed Senate Bill 330 last July 2019 during the 18th Congress, the bill is one step closer to becoming a law after both chambers of the Congress ratified it and will be forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte for the final signing.

Initially planned as a Philippine High School for Sports, a series of conference meetings transformed the previous scheme to an academy for sports.

Sen. Angara, the main proponent of the Bill, is also the chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the basketball organization that oversees operations in the country including the PH’s hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

“Now, rather than a single entity, the high school for sports, hopefully we can have a system which will permeate the grassroots development because we don’t have a really total grassroots immersion outside of the school system,” said Angara.

Angara also added that once the country’s money situation improves coming from a health crisis (COVID-19), they will start building the sports facilities right away for the academy.