Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has taken a step in championing the cause of Philippine sports as he pushes for the institutionalization of the Philippine National Games (PNG). This move, articulated in his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2514, signals an essential step towards embedding sports more deeply into the fabric of national development.

Go, leveraging his dual roles as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports and the Committee on Health and Demography, underlined the intrinsic link between sports, health, and nation-building.

"Our efforts to promote sports and physical fitness are always anchored on our mission to make our citizens healthy and fit," he said. This emphasizes sports as a cornerstone of national health and vitality, he added.

The senator connected the promotion of sports with broader social initiatives, including the fight against illegal drugs.

"Patuloy ang ating pag-engganyo sa mga kabataan to get into sports and stay away from drugs to keep healthy and fit," stated Go, reflecting a strategic approach to channeling youth energy into productive and healthy activities.

Go's advocacy for grassroots sports development was particularly notable. He underscored the importance of local programs in scouting and nurturing young talent, essential for building a robust national sports infrastructure.

He remarked on the potential of grassroots initiatives, stating, "Usually po, dito nakikita sa grassroots ang mga potential athletes natin," highlighting the need for a structured, nationwide platform for discovering and honing athletic talent.

He also referenced Executive Order No. 163 by former president Fidel Ramos in 1994, which positioned the PNG as a central element of the government's sports development strategy.

Meanwhile, Go also addressed the perennial issue of inadequate funding in sports, particularly at the grassroots level, and its implications for the PNG.

"Bagamat may Executive Order para sa PNG at may programa na para dito ang PSC, hindi pa rin ito sinasama sa NEP at tayo pa ang laging nagdaragdag ng pondo para dito. Mr. President, we want to address this through our proposed measure," he added.