Academy to produce more Olympic gold medalists–senator Gatchalian

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian is banking on the National Academy of Sports (NAS) to hone more future Olympic gold medalists following record-breaking weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’s first Olympic gold medalist. “First but definitely not the last,” Gatchalian predicted Thursday voicing renewed public optimism that the sports academy will continue to produce more champion athletes to follow in the footsteps of the Filipina Olympic gold winner weightlifter. Recalling that the Academy was established just last year following the signing into law of Republic

Act 11470, Gatchalian reminded that while Filipino athletes need broader government support, “the establishment of NAS is a major leap forward in institutionalizing government support for the next generation of Filipino athletes.”

The Senator notes that law mandates the NAS to “implement a quality and enhanced secondary education program, integrated with a special curriculum on sports, which takes into consideration the education and special training needs of the student-athletes.”

He expects that the holistic and quality education that NAS shall provide will enable its athletes to “excel in their respective sports or pursue their chosen profession or career,” noting that it offers full scholarships to natural-born Filipino citizens with considerable potential in sports.

As sponsor and co-author of the law, Gatchalian also aired expectations that while face-to-face classes remain restricted, “access to world-class facilities awaits the NAS scholars enrolled in the Sports Academy’s main campus at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, Tarlac.

The Senator added that the law also provides for the establishment of nationally-funded regional high schools for sports to boost the development of young athletes in other parts of the country.

In a statement, the Senator likewise reminded that shortlisted applicants of the NAS Annual Search for Competent, Exceptional, Notable and Talented Studentathlete Scholars (NASCENT SAS) will be announced on August

18, while signing of scholarship agreements and enrollment was set on August 30.

“Through this sports academy,” he assured “we will provide studentathlete scholars the support they deserve in the early stages of their journey so they can eventually bring pride and honor to our country and make history just like gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.”