He stressed that grassroots sports development will stagnate if the system stays centralized, especially when local governments outside Luzon are prepared to host NAS branches using existing facilities.
Go began by referring to the legislative proposal he recently filed to decentralize the academy in accordance with the spirit of the law creating the academy. He said: “nag-file rin po ako ng bill para ma-regionalize (ang NAS).”
He explained that while NAS is fully funded for its operations in their campus located in New Clark City in Pampanga, efforts must be made to expand its reach to promising student athletes from other provinces.
“In fact, mayroon yatang additional for NAS operations na P294 million sa committee report at ang pagkaalam ko mayroong dermitoryo ring ilalagay doon,” he cited.
Go emphasized that regionalization does not require building entirely new structures. Instead, existing facilities can be used to establish NAS programs beyond Luzon. He stated: “Pero iyan po’y nasa Luzon, kaya sana ay ma-regionalize ito sa tulong ng mga kasamahan natin (sa Senado) at malagyan rin po sa Visayas at Mindanao.”
To support this, Go cited the willingness expressed by local governments in Mindanao to host equivalent NAS setups. “May mga eskwelahan naman po ang LGUs sa Mindanao na willing na maglagay rin ng katulad ng sa NAS.”
During the deliberations, Senator Alan Cayetano responded by discussing the need for continuity in national sports programs. He stated that sectors such as the economy, infrastructure, and agriculture require sustained multi-year planning, and that sports development must be no different. Programs will not reach maturity if they are judged year by year or halted prematurely, the minority leader explained.
Cayetano also brought up international hosting timelines, noting the importance of integrating the country’s sports development planning with upcoming events. He raised the question of when the Philippines would next host the Southeast Asian Games and pointed to the need to plan ahead in coordination with the Department of Education and the PSC, Go agreed.
Go has long championed the welfare of Filipino athletes through a comprehensive, inclusive, and grassroots-oriented approach to sports development.
At the heart of this advocacy is the NAS, established under Republic Act No. 11470, which Go authored and co-sponsored. Located in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, NAS offers a unique dual-track system combining quality secondary education with a specialized sports curriculum, allowing young student-athletes to pursue academic excellence while developing their athletic talents.
To expand access to this model, Go filed Senate Bill No. 171, or the proposed National Academy of Sports Regional Expansion Act of 2025, seeking to establish regional NAS campuses nationwide, with particular focus on Visayas and Mindanao. These campuses will provide full scholarships and maintain the academic and athletic standards of the main campus to ensure equitable development of sports talent across the country.