The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo met recently to discuss the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11470, otherwise known as “The National Academy of Sports (NAS) System,” and ensure that there is a ready college program for K-12 students in the sports track or in any sport in high school.
Romulo urged the NAS System to complete its curriculum to convince the Department of Education (DepEd) that the said curriculum could be used in its sports track and “maging mass-based pa tayo sa training natin of student-athletes. Sayang lang ‘yung K-12 sports track which hardly has any students enrolling.”
“The NAS System would be able to complete the curriculum for the junior high this year and the senior curriculum by next year.”
After reporting on the actual funding that the NAS System received against the budget requested, and the progress made in implementing RA 11470, NAS System Executive Director Prof. Josephine Joy Reyes assured the veteran legislator that the NAS System would be able to complete the curriculum for the junior high this year and the senior curriculum by next year. Presently, the NAS System has completed only the curriculum for Grades 7 to 8.
Reyes also relayed that 117 students from across the country have enrolled for school year 2022-2023 in the NAS System programs on aquatics, athletics, badminton, gymnastics, judo, table tennis, taekwondo, and weightlifting.
“Hindi ba dapat comparative advantage tinitingnan din natin?”
Marikina City Representative Stella Luz Quimbo inquired about the exclusion of sports like basketball, volleyball and lawn tennis from the list of sports that the NAS System offers, “Hindi ba dapat comparative advantage tinitingnan din natin?”
Reyes explained that the NAS System would be adding more sport programs. However, the selection of sport programs to be offered is based on where “we are good at and where we are excelling.”
She briefed the panel the NAS System strategic roadmap 2021-2030 and the NAS curriculum framework and gave an update on the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of Republic Act (RA) 11470 or the NAS Act.
Sarangani Representative Steve Solon through Sports Director Alma Corazon Gabuat also gave a short presentation on the Sarangani National Sports Academy (SANSA) and Sarangani Sports Training Center (SSTC).
