In line with the administration’s push for the improvement of sports development and related facilities in the country.
On August 29, 2025, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12239, which will establish the Bataan High School for Sports, a secondary school dedicated to sports, in the town of Bagac in Bataan province.
Under R.A. No. 12239, or the Bataan School for Sports Act, the school will be administered and supervised by the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the National Academy of Sports (NAS).
It will be operated in accordance with the policies and guidelines issued by the NAS System Board of Trustees, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11470, or the National Academy of Sports Law.
Included in the mandate of Bataan High School for Sports is the implementation of a general secondary education, as prescribed by Republic Act No. 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, to Bataan learners with considerable potential in sports.
Meanwhile, the budget for the school’s initial operation will be funded by the current year’s appropriation of the Schools Division Office of Bataan. Moving forward, its continued operation will annually receive allocation from the national budget.
Aside from a dedicated school for sports, in late August, the PSC and DepEd have joined forces with the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz to bring sports development straight to schools.
Also part of this initiative is the PSC’s donation of high-quality training equipment to schools, where it also encouraged the private sector to join in to further streamline its implementation.
To bolster the program, Department of Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman also announced a P180 million commitment to build a stronger foundation for future champions.
In his prior statement, DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara disclosed that around 300 public schools now offer the specialized sports curriculum which provides students more dedicated time and resources for training and development.
These moves align with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s declaration during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, where he told that the administration will strengthen grassroots sports development in the country.