Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the establishment of a dedicated Department of Sports, saying it is high time the government gave stronger institutional support to athletes and grassroots development programs.
During the first public hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports which he chairs, Go lamented the limited funding for sports.
“If you look at the national budget, the share for sports is very small. That’s why I hope this can eventually become a full department. It’s really about time,” he said.
Go recalled that only about P200 million was initially approved for the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in 2024, but he pushed for an increase to P1.2 billion. For 2025, the PSC’s budget was raised further to P1.3 billion.
As a sports advocate, Go said the larger allocation is intended not only to improve athletes’ training and performance in international competitions but also to boost grassroots programs that nurture young talent.
“We expect our athletes to perform in international competitions. When they win, the whole country shares in the honor they bring,” he said.
Go noted that government support has already yielded results, citing the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2020 and two more gold medals in Paris in 2024 — historic milestones that came under his term as Sports Committee chair.
He credited these achievements to the discipline and perseverance of athletes, but stressed that consistent investment in sports remains crucial.
As concurrent chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, Go also underscored the wider benefits of promoting sports. “Investing in sports does more than build champions. It protects our youth from drugs and harmful vices while nurturing world-class athletes who bring pride, honor, and inspiration to our nation,” he said.
