President Marcos Affirms Support for Sports Development, Announces Multi-Faceted Initiatives for Athletes

Manila – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated his administration’s commitment to developing the sports industry in the Philippines. Addressing an audience at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, the President outlined a range of programs and strategies aimed at fostering sports talent and ensuring the welfare of Filipino athletes.

According to a news release by the Philippines News Agency, Marcos spoke at the grand welcome and awarding ceremony for the 33 Filipino athletes who secured medals at the 19th Asian Games. The President emphasized the government’s role in aiding athletes to excel in international competitions. He stated that the administration would continue to support various programs that focus on sports development.

In his speech, Marcos mentioned that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is rolling out a five-year Sports Development Plan for 2023-2028. The initiative is designed to address the concerns of Filipino athletes and involves participation from multiple levels of government as well as the private sector. The President also directed the PSC to collaborate with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and other agencies to enhance medical scientific athlete services for the immediate recovery of injured athletes.

President Marcos also discussed plans to operationalize the sports academy at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The National Academy of Sports (NAS), established by the government, aims to nurture athletic skills and talents through a secondary education program. The President added that the government is taking steps to upgrade sports facilities in state universities and colleges.

Speaking directly to the athletes, Marcos encouraged them to continue striving for excellence, stating that the government and the nation support them at every step. “It is my hope that the individual victories that we honor now will inspire our collective vision and pursuits for the future,” he said.

During the ceremony, the President led the awarding of the Presidential Citation to the Asian Games medalists in acknowledgment of their achievements. The athletes also received a total of PHP19.1 million in incentives from the PSC through PAGCOR and an additional PHP22.8 million from the Office of the President.