As the country looks to further improve its sports program.
On Tuesday, October 6, during a visit to a school in Bacoor, Cavite, Secretary Sonny Angara inspected sports training activities such as the school’s arnis club.
The said inspection is part of the Department’s campaign under DepEd Order No. 22, series of 2025, which mandates the establishment of School Sports Clubs (SSCs) in all public elementary and secondary schools, Community Learning Centers, and Inclusive Learning Resource Centers nationwide.
The SSCs provide two to three hours of organized training per week under the guidance of trained school coordinators, with the goal of providing wholesome, positive activities that promote health, character building, and the cultivation of good values to the youth.
In line with that, the Department of Education reported that in about 31,471 public schools in the country, a total of 151,748 SSCs covering 24 different sports disciplines have been registered.
Leading sports are athletics (availabile in 23,747 schools), badminton (21,795), chess (19,207), volleyball (16,931), basketball (13,559), table tennis (8,196), sepak takraw (7,663), and arnis (6,182).
Others include dancesport, swimming, taekwondo, billiards, gymnastics, football, tennis, boxing, futsal, baseball, softball, para games, wushu, archery, wrestling, and pencak silat, the education department further noted.
Moreover, the program also aligns with the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) “Grassroots-to-Gold” framework, which links school-based training to the elite athlete level and provides incentives and support through events such as the Palarong Pambansa.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized: “Sports give our young people a productive, structured outlet where they learn discipline, emotional resilience, and mutual respect. When we provide learners with safe, positive channels for their energy, we build supportive learning communities and give them the tools to navigate challenges, focus on their studies, and thrive both physically and mentally.”
He also noted that by strengthening sports clubs alongside school health services, a “safe, holistic environment where learners can channel their energy positively and achieve their full potential” can be created.
