Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go pushed for the establishment of the Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS), citing the opportunities that will be accorded outstanding student athletes.

At the hearing of Senate Bill 1086 on Tuesday, Go said he has always been “very vocal and public about my advocacy of passing this legislative measure” and urges the Senate to support the measure “for the benefit of our youth, and for the benefit of Philippine sports.”

The senator has been a staunch supporter of Philippine sports development. He said the bill will be carried out in facilities to be built at the New Clark City in Tarlac, one of the venues of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

“With the (establishment) of the PHSS in very close proximity to world-class facilities, our student-athletes can enjoy a level of training which is at par with the best in the world. This type of training and education can catapult our student-athletes to illustrious careers in sports, whether as athletes, coaches, managers, or any other sports-related profession,” Go said.

Go’s advocacy is shared by President Rodrigo Duterte who, in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, aired his support for the passage of the bill.

“In pushing for the passage of this measure, I have closely coordinated with agencies, such as the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Education, Department of Budget and Management and of course, the Bases Conversion Development Authority, to ensure that this bill, if passed, shall allow us to hit the ground running,” Go stated.

The proposed PHSS will enable student-athletes to be enrolled in a high school where the government provides them with full or partial scholarships. A specialized curriculum to be developed by DepEd will also allow the youth to study core subjects, such as Mathematics and Science, while simultaneously developing their athletic skills.

“It is a reality for some of our gifted young athletes to experience difficulty in accessing quality education. Through scholarship grants, we will be able to provide an avenue for them to gain quality education, while developing their skills and talents in sports through world-class training,” Go highlighted.

In his co-sponsorship speech, he expressed that he has already supported other sports-related initiatives, such as the country’s national men’s basketball team and 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

“Even before I became fortunate enough to be part of this honorable chamber, sports has always had a place very close to my heart,” Go said. “Time and again, I have publicly supported various programs and initiatives for the advancement of Philippine sports, from my all-out support as part of the delegation of the men’s basketball team to finding ways to supplement the training of our very own Hidilyn Diaz, I proudly display my support for Philippine Sports.”

Go also highlighted how the law emphasizes the need for avenues to promote different aspects of nation-building, citing that the importance of sports and education is especially enshrined in the 1987 Constitution.

“The Constitution itself provides that the State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development,” Go shared.

Meanwhile, Go thanked his colleagues who supported the initiative, especially Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is the sponsor of the bill and the Senate Committee on Basic Education chair.

“The framework is there, and the foundation is laid. All that we must do is to give this bill a chance to come into fruition,” Go said.