Bill creating National Academy of Sports awaits Duterte’s signature

MANILA, Philippines — The bill seeking to establish the National Academy of Sports (NAS) that will promote and prepare the youth “for a long-term career in sports” now only needs President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

This comes after the House of Representatives ratified on Tuesday the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 6312 and Senate Bill No. 1086 creating and establishing NAS.

Senate has already ratified the bicam report which means the bill will now be transmitted to the President for signature.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the basic education, arts and culture committee, earlier said that NAS would “train and develop future generations of world champion Filipino athlete.”

“This is a high school that will give our students a quality and enhanced secondary education program, integrated with a special curriculum on sports. Our students will be housed and trained in world-class sports facilities which are at par with international standards,” Gatchalian said.

“We want to support aspiring athletes at the earliest possible opportunities so we would look for those who have the potential and train them in world-class facilities,” he added.

Once enacted into law, the main campus of the NAS will be established at the existing New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac and will be attached to the Department of Education (DepEd) together with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

In his State of the Nation Address (Sona) in 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his support towards the move to create NAS for high school students.