Bill aims to expand Philippine National Games

MANILA, Philippines – A measure has been filed in the Senate institutionalizing the Philippine National Games (PNG), which would expand the national competition. 

Senate Bill no. 2514, or the Philippine National Games Act, has been filed at the Senate on December 13. 

The sports competition, which the bill described as a “venue for the discovery of potential national and elite athletes,” would provide a framework linking grassroots sports promotion to elite sports development, including sporting events applicable to para-athletes. 

The Games will also encourage all local government units to promote sports development, and serve as a venue for the National Sports Associations in promoting sports at the grassroots level.

The PNG will also widen the base for talent identification, selection and recruitment of athletes and para-athletes.

The bill also called for the creation of the PNG Coordinating Committee, which would ensure the attainment of the purposes and objectives of the measure. 

They will formulate plans, policies and guidelines for the PNG; recognize provincial and city local sports councils that will be given authority to register athletes and teams in the Games; determine the host and schedule of the PNG; coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management, as well as other government agencies for the funding; determine the sports to be included in the Games; develop programs and policies to promote the PNG; and exercise other functions for the effective implementation of the Act. 

The bill is still pending the second reading. 

According to Sen. Christopher Go, one of the authors of the bill, it will also “highlight the inclusion of para-athletes and the commitment to hold biennial Games for wide-ranging participation.”

The bill will also create opportunities for athletes at all levels, from grassroots to elite. 

The legislator also pushed for an additional budget for the Philippine Sports Commission to support the preparation, training and participation of Filipino athletes in sports competitions. 

“P174 million was approved as the budget [for 2024]. We are pushing to provide another P500 million, which would also cover Batang Pinoy and PNG, as well as the repair of the Rizal Memorial Coliseum,” he said. 

This year’s Batang Pinoy and the PNG opened over the weekend, which Go attended. 

“[This year’s] theme “Sibol: Rise of New Athletes” could not be more fitting as these games aim to create a more inclusive system that promotes promising Filipino athletes, giving them equal opportunity to become future contenders in international sporting events and contribute to cementing the country’s status as a sports powerhouse in Asia,” the senator said. 

“The children now are the future of the country and they will go far,” he added.