Go renews push to institutionalize Philippine National Games

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has refiled a bill seeking to institutionalize the Philippine National Games (PNG) as the country’s primary grassroots sports development program.

Senate Bill No. 413, filed at the start of the 20th Congress, aims to create a nationwide platform for discovering and training athletes beyond the school system, especially those from underserved communities.

“In the government’s pursuit to execute the constitutional mandate on sports development, former President Fidel Ramos issued Executive Order 163 in 1994 which declared the Philippine National Games as the centerpiece program of the government’s national physical fitness and sports development effort,” Go said.

The PNG bill was approved by both Houses in the 19th Congress but failed to get the nod of the president. The senator emphasized that the PNG is different from the Department of Education’s Palarong Pambansa.

“It is just right to reiterate that the Philippine National Games is not a duplication of the Palarong Pambansa since the latter is a school sports program of the Department of Education for students generally 18 years old and below. Meanwhile, the Philippine National Games is a grassroots competition program of the Philippine Sports Commission for athletes 18 years old and above representing local government units,” he explained.

The PNG would serve as a recruitment ground for national athletes while also including out-of-school youth and adult competitors. The bill envisions a biennial competition with broad participation from provinces, cities, and municipalities.

Go said the measure aims to “provide a structure for a truly integrated and comprehensive national sports program, linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports development, and encourage all local governments to promote the development of sports in the countryside covering all barangays, towns, municipalities, cities, and provinces.”

The proposal includes forming a Philippine National Games Board composed of representatives from national agencies and private leagues to oversee logistics, security, and athlete welfare.

Go has also filed bills to regionalize the National Academy of Sports and expand benefits for para-athletes, as part of his broader effort to make sports accessible and inclusive.

“As an advocate of sports, we should also further advance sports development in the country, especially at the grassroots, so that aspiring young athletes can be allowed to improve their skills and, hopefully, eventually produce more Olympic medalists who will bring honor to our country,” he said during his proclamation speech after his re-election to the Senate.