National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025

TWENTIETH CONGRESS REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 2 W -7 A9:58 SENATE S. No. - INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPORTS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES IN VISAYAS AND MINDANAO TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND REGIONAL ACCESS TO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT EXPLANATORY NOTE Article 14, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. In fulfillment of this Constitutional mandate, Republic Act No. 11470 was enacted, establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) as an institution dedicated to the education and training of qualified student-athletes. The National Academy of Sports has since played a pivotal role in nurturing homegrown talent and to empower the next generation of sports champions by combining excellence in both academics and in sports. However, the current centralized structure of the NAS limits its reach and accessibility, particularly for promising student-athletes from Visayas and Mindanao. This gap in access hampers the goal of inclusive national sports development, and overlooks the untapped potential across our regions. The proposed measure aims to fill this gap by institutionalizing the regionalization of the NAS system and establishing campuses in all regions. The objective is to decentralize access to quality sports education and development,

provide equal opportunities to aspiring student-athletes across the country, and strengthen inclusive participation in the national sports pipeline. In view of the foregoing, the proposed measure is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO

TWENTIETH CONGRESS REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -7 A9:58 SENATE S. No. - INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO INSTITUTTONALIZING THE EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPORTS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL CAMPUSES IN VISAYAS AND MINDANAO TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND REGIONAL ACCESS TO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This act shall be known as the "National Academy

2 of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025. "

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article XIV, Section 19 (1) of the 1987

5 Constitution provides that the State shall promote physical education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for international sports competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. Pursuant thereto, it is incumbent upon the State to institutionalize the expansion of the National Academy of Sports through the establishment of regional campuses. This initiative aims to promote equitable access to quality sports education and training, nurture athletic talent across all regions, and ensure inclusive national development through sports.

SEC 3. National Academy of Sports Regional Campuses.- In pursuit of

expanding access to sports education and talent development, the National Academy

1 of Sports (NAS) established under Republic Act (RA) No. 11470 shall be expanded 2 through the establishment of campuses in all administrative regions of the country. 3 The campuses shall be part of the NAS System created under RA 11470, and serve as 4 centers of excellence in sports education and training, enabling the discovery and 5 nurturing of athletic talent across the country. The NAS campuses shall offer, on full scholarship basis, a secondary education 7 to natural-born Filipino citizens with considerable potential in sports, and follow the 8 same curriculum as the NAS System. The campuses shall be organized in coordination 9 with the concerned local government unit, the DepEd, the NAS Board of Trustees, and 10 in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

SEC. 4. Establishment of National Academy of Sports Regional Campuses.—

Within one (1) year after the effectivity of this Act, the NAS Board of Trustees created under RA 11470 shall identify locations in every administrative region where a campus of NAS shall be established. Such campus may be existing sports academies under the Department of Education (DepEd) or locally funded high schools for sports that are strategically located to ensure the admission of qualified students from all sectors, including indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. The NAS campuses shall be equipped with the necessary sporting facilities and other amenities. The DepEd, in coordination with the PSC, shall establish and upgrade existing facilities of NAS campuses to meet the requirements of this Act.

SEC. 5. Campus Directors.- Each NAS campus shall have a Campus Director

who shall serve as the administrative and academic head, and be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the campus. The Campus Director shall be appointed by the NAS Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, for a term of five (5) years in accordance with the guidelines and qualifications to be set forth in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

SEC. 6. Staffing.- All existing faculty, personnel and staff of the sports

academy or high school for sports to be converted into a NAS campus shall be

absorbed. The NAS Board of Trustees shall determine a staffing pattern for all NAS campuses, in consultation with the DBM.

SEC. 7. Appropriations.— The amount necessary to carry out the

implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the NAS System under 6 the Department of Education in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations.— Within thirty (30) days after

the effectivity of this Act, the Board of Trustees shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause.- If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain vaiid and subsisting.

SEC 10. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,