The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) have closed ranks to fast-track the country’s sports development agenda, signaling a unified push to deliver results on the ground, where Filipino athletes could become world-class.

In a recent meeting with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio agreed to align priority sports projects and strategic plans aimed at accelerating nationwide sports development.

The high-level discussion focused on strengthening regional training centers, expanding grassroots sports programs, and advancing sports tourism initiatives that can simultaneously raise athletic performance and spur local economic growth.

“Pagcor and the PSC will unite to deliver the sufficient facilities, right amount of support and a bigger room to further develop the skills of Filipino athletes,” Recto said.

“Through this partnership, we reaffirm the government’s commitment to investing in Filipino potential, building not only champions in sports, but also national pride and opportunity for communities across the country.”

Recto agreed with Gregorio and Tengco that alignment at the top is critical to ensuring that government investments translate into modern facilities, wider access, and clearer pathways for young athletes.

The initiative is anchored on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to go all-out in sports and youth development, positioning sports not only as a platform for excellence, but as a powerful tool for nation-building.

Recto emphasized his vision of establishing regional training centers in every province across the country.

To accelerate construction, Gregorio emphasized the need to identify and complete unfinished or underutilized facilities, notably the Ilocos Norte Sports Institute and Research Building, sports facilities in Siargao and the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Athletic Bowl in Baguio City, among others.

The PSC chief also highlighted the importance of partnering with State Universities and Colleges that possess vast tracts of unused land, such as University of the Philippines Mindanao, UP Diliman and UP Los Baños.