Duterte signs National Sports Academy into law

New Clark City is home to world-class sporting venues for swimming and athletics. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines–President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law creating the National Academy of Sports that would offer a secondary education program integrated with a special curriculum on sports to develop better athletes, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.

The National Academy of Sports will be located at New Clark City in Tarlac province, the site of new sports facilities built for the Philippines’ hosting of the Southeast Asian Games last December where the Filipinos ran away with the overall title after a haul of 149 gold medals that went with 117 silver and 121 bronze medals.

“With [Mr. Duterte’s] signing of [Republic Act No. 11470,] we are confident that we will be able to raise our student-athletes’ competitiveness in the field of sports and produce world-class athletes in the years to come,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Sen. Bong Go, one of the bill’s authors, said in a statement that the creation of the academy would give young athletes a chance to train and study in a world-class facility and school, giving them a better chance to succeed.

The academy will be equipped with facilities, housing and other amenities that will conform to international standards.

The school will be attached to the Department of Education, which would coordinate with the Philippine Sports Commission and will be allowed to approve the hiring of foreign coaches.