Senator Christopher "Bong" Go underscored the importance of grassroots sports development as he joined the ceremonial tee-off of the 3rd El Presidente Cup at the Orchard Golf and Country Club on 24 April.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, said the charitable golf tournament goes beyond competition by creating opportunities for young Filipino athletes to develop their skills, discipline, and well-being.
“It is truly an honor to join you today at the El Presidente Cup—an event that not only celebrates excellence in golf but also serves a greater purpose of supporting our young and promising athletes,” Go said.
He commended the organizers led by former Philippine Sports Commission commissioner and PBA legend Ramon 'Mon' Fernandez, noting that such initiatives help open doors for aspiring athletes.
“Congratulations sa inyong pangatlong El Presidente Cup, Sir Mon! Sana’y magkaroon pa ng maraming El Presidente Cup muli sa mga susunod na taon. Hindi lang dito sa Maynila, kungdi pati sa buong Pilipinas,” he added.
Go linked the event to broader efforts to strengthen community sports programs through the Philippine Sports Commission, emphasizing the need to expand platforms for athletes nationwide.
Central to his push is the National Academy of Sports, established under Republic Act No. 11470, which he authored and co-sponsored. Located in New Clark City, the institution offers a dual-track system combining secondary education with specialized sports training.
To widen access, Go filed Senate Bill No. 171, or the proposed National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025, which seeks to establish regional campuses, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, with full scholarship support.
He also filed Senate Bill No. 407 to amend the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act to include para-athletes, as well as Senate Bill No. 413, which aims to institutionalize the Philippine National Games as a nationwide grassroots competition.
Another measure, Senate Bill No. 678 or the proposed National Tertiary Games Act, seeks to formalize a national collegiate multi-sport tournament to further develop athletic talent.
As sponsor of the sports budget in the Senate, Go has pushed for the rehabilitation and upgrading of key facilities such as the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the PhilSports Arena, stressing the need to provide athletes with proper training environments, equipment, nutrition, and mental health support.
He also reiterated the importance of increasing funding for sports programs to boost the country’s competitiveness in international competitions while strengthening grassroots participation.
Since assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Sports in 2019, Go noted that Philippine athletics has achieved milestones, including its first Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games and a twin gold finish at the Paris Olympics.
“Bilang Chairman po ng Committee on Sports, patuloy kong sinusuportahan ang mga sports program ng ating bansa dahil naniniwala ako na ang sports ay isang paraan na ilayo natin ang mga kababayan natin sa masasamang bisyo. Get into sports, stay away from drugs, to keep us healthy and fit,” he said.
Go also thanked participants, sponsors, and supporters of the tournament.
“Salamat sa lahat ng sumuporta sa El Presidente. Good luck sa lahat ng players at congratulations sa lahat ng winners!” he said.