BONG GO PUSHES FOR SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING BOOST TO PHILIPPINE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT DURING THE SENATE DELIBERATION ON THE 2025 BUDGET OF PSC, GAB

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, advocated strongly for increased 2025 budget appropriations for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) during the Senate plenary deliberations on Tuesday, November 12, which extended into the early hours of Wednesday, November 13.

As the main sponsor of the sports budget, Go emphasized the essential roles these agencies play in uplifting Philippine sports, supporting athletes, regulating sports competitions and promoting grassroots sports development.

For the fiscal year 2025, the PSC’s proposed budget stands at PHP 1.34 billion—a marked increase in the General Appropriations Bill. This budget, as Go explained, is largely dedicated to the rehabilitation and upgrading of sports facilities, support for national athletes and coaches, and the conduct of grassroots sports programs like the Philippine National Games, among other priorities.

During the interpellation, Senator Koko Pimentel inquired if the PSC has a program similar to the Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program to ensure regular maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of sports facilities.

Go pointed to ongoing efforts to rehabilitate several critical sports facilities. “Actually, Mr. President, for this year, 2024, dito po sa Congress, we pushed for the rehabilitation of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. It’s ongoing right now. And the rehabilitation of PhilSports (Complex). Ito po ‘yung used to be known as ‘Ultra,’” Go explained.

Highlighting the importance of comprehensive support for athletes, Go recounted feedback from Filipino Olympians, who emphasized the need for more than just financial assistance but for holistic support to be provided.

“‘Yung request ng mga athletes natin, ‘yung Olympians, maalala ko, sabi nila, dapat po ‘yung suporta ng gobyerno, hindi lang po financial,” Go shared. “Importante rito, equipment, importante rito, pagkain, and of course, moral and mental support sa kanila.”

Shifting the focus to Filipino athletic talent, Pimentel advocated for recognizing “generational sports talents” such as Carlos Yulo, the celebrated Filipino gymnast. Pimentel and Go expressed a strong belief in their potential in bringing glory to the country and inspiring other aspiring athletes.

Pimentel raised a critical point on the availability of a steady fund dedicated to fostering potential and developing not only champions but athletes who can bring honor to the Philippines on international stages, whether they secure gold medals or otherwise. In response, Go affirmed that the PSC maintains funds that can be utilized by the country’s National Sports Associations (NSAs) for the development of emerging athletes.

“Actually, Mr. President, we have more than about 80 NSAs and they have their own respective training pools,” he noted, adding that the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund is explicitly aimed at supporting these initiatives.

In addition to the budget discussions on facility rehabilitation and athlete support, Pimentel turned attention to an item in the PSC’s budget that reflected a significant increase in travel expenses for the upcoming year.

Go attributed the surge in travel expenses to the anticipated spike in Philippine delegations attending various international sporting events in 2025 such as the upcoming South East Asian Games, among others.

The senators commended the PSC for its successful sports development programs that yielded record-breaking achievements for the country in recent years. Go specifically acknowledged the unprecedented medal haul in both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Go echoed this sentiment, noting the historical significance of recent achievements: “Since magkasama po tayo dito sa 18th Congress and 19th Congress, and as chairman of the Committee on Sports sa panahon ito, naka-first ever gold tayo kay Hidilyn Diaz last 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and first ever twin gold sa 2024 Paris Olympics (kay Carlos Yulo) and two bronze kay Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio. So record po ito, history po ito, Mr. President. Kasi kulelat tayo noong 2004, I think, 2008, 2012, wala tayong nakuha kahit na isang medalya.”

Meanwhile, during the discussion, Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Pimentel also queried GAB’s proposed budget for 2025 and discussed recent administrative changes.

A significant portion of the GAB discussion revolved around the pressing issue of game-fixing reported within Philippine sports, especially in basketball. Pimentel and Estrada voiced serious concerns over the widespread issue, noting its impact on both collegiate and high school athletes.

Go acknowledged the gravity of the problem, sharing that GAB had already taken action against illegal activities.

Moreover, Go highlighted the importance of continued investments in Philippine sports infrastructure, athlete development programs, and integrity in sports governance.

Go’s sponsorship of the increased PSC and GAB budgets underscores his dedication to empowering Filipino athletes and promoting excellence in Philippine sports. His advocacy calls for a future where Philippine athletes have access to world-class facilities, receive ample support, and operate within a sports environment grounded in integrity and fair play.

“Minsan lang po tayong dadaan sa mundong ito. Anumang tulong ang puwede nating ibigay sa kapwa, o anumang karangalan ang puwede nating ialay sa bansa ay gawin na natin ngayon dahil hindi na tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” Go earlier said.

“Bilang inyong Senator Kuya Bong Go, patuloy po akong susuporta sa ating mga atleta, at magseserbisyo sa lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya. Bisyo ko po ang magserbisyo, at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he said previously.