A leader of the House of Representatives has proposed the establishment of a specialized educational institution designed to hone both the academic and athletic skills of high school students with exceptional talent in this field of endeavor.
Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said his
House Bill 2545 is in support of grassroots sports development.
Villafuerte said his proposed National Academy of Sports for High School aimed to be a “premier training center” that will offer full or partial scholarships for secondary education, with special emphasis on developing the athletic skills of students through subjects pertaining to physical education and sports development.
“The goal is to educate students who have shown their early potential of excelling in sports for a sports-related career while undergoing quality secondary education,” said Villafuerte, who is a member of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Senator Christopher Go has filed a counterpart bill in the Senate seeking the establishment of the NASHS, which President Duterte urged the Congress to pass in his 4th State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July 22.
Villafuerte, who represents Camarines Sur’s Second district, said setting up the NASHS will also maximize the use of the world-class sports complex in New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac that is now being established in preparation for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November.
He has proposed that the NASHS, complete with the necessary sports facilities and amenities that are par with international standards, be built inside the NCC.
The NCC sports complex boasts an athletics stadium, aquatics center, Athlete’s village and a river park development, which can all be put to good use even after the conclusion of the SEA Games once the NASHS is operational, he added.
Villafuerte said that while Republic Act (RA) 6847 created the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to support our athletes and allow them the opportunity to be outstanding in and out of the country, “grassroots sports development remains lacking and talents are still underdeveloped and unrecognized.”
When he was Camarines Sur governor, Villafuerte established the Camarines Sur Sports Academy, which integrated sports training in the curriculum of high school students. This initiative resulted in sharpening the skills of CamSur student athletes who excelled in Palarong Pambansa competitions.
“As the enthusiasm for sports is seen to grow, it is important the we ensure that our athletes are given adequate means for opportunities and that their potential is recognized,” Villafuerte said. “Even President Duterte pointed out that sports play an important role in encourage a healthy lifestyle and instilling essential characteristics.”
Under Villafuerte’s proposal, the NASHS will be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) and will coordinate with the PSC in formulating and implementing policies on subjects pertaining to sports.
The NASHS will be governed by a Board of Trustees to be chaired by the DepEd Secretary, with the PSC chairperson as vice chairperson.
The Board members will include the Director of the NASHS; one representative each from the House of Representatives and the Senate; and four representatives from accredited national sports associations to be nominated by the different sports associations and appointed by the Chairperson of the Board, provided that there should always be a representative from track and field and aquatic sports.