Go urges young athletes to join sports academy
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go urged promising Filipino athletes to join the National Academy of Sports Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable and Talented Student-Athlete Scholars (NASCENT SAS) as the deadline of submission of applications had been extended to 31 July.
As part of Go’s vision to provide a dedicated academy where promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education, he authored and co-sponsored the National Academy of Sports (NAS) bill in the Senate which was enacted into Republic Act 11470 in 2020. The measure seeks the establishment of the NAS System and Main Campus in New Clark City, Capas, and Tarlac.
“It is about time that we establish a learning institution focused on sports. That’s why we’re inviting the young athletes to join the scholarship program of the National Academy of Sports,”
Go, the Senate Sports Committee chair, said. “Now that we already have the National Academy of Sports, we can now give our young athletes a chance to train and study in a world-class sports facility and institution.” The NAS is a governmentrun academy aimed at developing the country’s future athletes that offers quality secondary education with a special curriculum on sports for gifted young Filipinos who want to enhance their physical and mental capabilities in sports.
Launched on 18 June, the NASCENT SAS Program is the annual search to identify and offer scholarships to academically competent and athletically talented natural-born Filipino youth from all sectors of society, including indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as long as they meet the following qualifications: aspirant should be a natural-born Filipino citizen who is an incoming Grade 7 student or a graduate of elementary school at the time of application, they should not be older than 14 years old at the start of the school year, and they must be able to present proof that they are physically fit to undergo the athletic program.
Now that we already have the National Academy of Sports, we can now give our young athletes a chance to train and study in a world-class sports facility and institution.
Qualified scholars will then have the opportunity to lodge at the NAS Dormitory in NAS Campus in Tarlac, and have access to specialized sports training in world-class facilities. In addition, scholars will also be given the chance to represent the country and NAS in international competitions and exchange programs.
Student-athletes under the NAS may also be granted various forms of scholarships and monthly allowances subject to availability of funds.
Last May, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the release of the budget for the construction of the facilities and amenities of the NAS in Tarlac.
The government allocated a total of P729 million to cover the construction costs, including civil works requirements; fixtures, furniture and equipment; and consultancy services. To guarantee quality education and to ensure the international competitiveness of the student-athletes, the academy plans to hire local and foreign coaches, trainers, and consultants who are licensed and certified by the Philippine Sports Commission and other international sports training organizations.