Senator Christopher “Bong” Go joined President Rodrigo Duterte in the inspection of the National Academy of Sports on Tuesday, June 14, in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac. The President was invited as guest of honor and speaker for the event.

In his speech, Duterte said Go, since he was his aide, has dreamed of establishing a sports complex in the country to facilitate the training while providing quality education for aspiring athletes. “At the time he was an aide, dream niya talaga ito (NAS).”

Go said that developing excellent athletes who can bring pride to the country requires the collective effort of the entire nation. He went on to say that good athletes do not arise out of nowhere. Years of training are required, with a whole-of-nation approach to ensure their welfare.

“Ang paghuhubog ng mga atletang magbibigay karangalan sa ating bansa ay isang kolektibong pagsisikap ng sambayanan. Mahirap maabot ang kanilang pangarap para sa kanilang sarili, pamilya at bansa kung wala pong sapat na suporta,” he said.

“Ang tagumpay nila ay tagumpay ng buong sambayanan. Ngunit ang tagumpay na ito ay nangangailangan rin ng karampatang pagsisikap hindi lang mula sa atleta kundi pati na rin sa atin na may tungkuling suportahan sila sa kanilang preparasyon at kompetisyon,” Go added.

“Kaya naman masaya po ako sa pagtatatag ng paaralang ito na magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa kanila na magtraining at malinang ang kanilang mga kakayahan —- not only as athletes but as productive members of society,” he explained.

As part of his vision to provide a dedicated academy for promising young athletes, Go authored and co-sponsored a bill in the Senate which became Republic Act No. 11470 in 2020. The law provided for the establishment of the NAS System and Main Campus.

The NAS also offers a secondary education program with an integrated special curriculum on sports which was developed in close coordination with the Department of Education and Philippine Sports Commission.

The academy is equipped with world-class sports facilities, housing and other amenities on par with international standards. Sufficient number of classrooms and other facilities have also been built at the complex to provide a conducive learning environment for all the students.

To ensure the international competitiveness of the student-athletes, the academy likewise provides services of licensed and internationally-certified foreign coaches, trainers and consultants, duly certified by the PSC.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng maayos na mga programa sa ating mga kabataan upang sila ay makapag-aral ng mabuti at magabayan sa kanilang mga talento sa sports, mas mabibigyan natin sila ng oportunidad na magtagumpay sa buhay,” said Go in his previous statements.

“Layunin ko na magkaroon ang ating mga kabataan ng marangal at maayos na pamumuhay ‘di lang ngayon kundi pati sa kanilang pagtanda,” he explained.

The project began on July 16, 2021 and Phase I is expected to be completed by the end of July 2022. Meanwhile, the entire project (Phases II and III) is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The NAS welcomed its pioneering batch of scholars during the opening of School Year 2021-2022 in September 2021. Face-to-face classes will eventually be held on a pilot basis for the start of SY 2022-2023.

The NAS is expected to provide high-quality and enhanced secondary education programs with a special curriculum on sports, and sports facilities and services on par with global standards to develop the athletic skills and talents of student-athletes.

Go believes that with massive government investment in sports development especially in the grassroots, young Filipinos will be given the opportunity to uplift their lives and bring honor to the country.

A sports enthusiast himself, Go is an ardent advocate for long-term grassroots sports development. According to him, aside from honing the skills of budding Filipino athletes, sports will help them stay away from illegal drugs and criminality at a young age.

“It is an honor to help provide these opportunities for students who wish to achieve more in their lives and help make a difference through proper education and sports development. During my first month as a senator, I dreamed of establishing an educational institution that would specialize in sports development,” Go said earlier.

“Looking back, I am delighted that all the hard work has finally paid off and we are on the path toward sports excellence,” he continued.