Bong Go joins groundbreaking of Taytay Sports Complex; assures athletes of full support from the government

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go joined the groundbreaking ceremony of the Taytay Sports Complex in Taytay, Rizal, on Monday, November 18. In his speech, Go also lauded the provincial and municipal governments for supporting local athletes.

"As a sports enthusiast myself, I greatly appreciate what you are doing for the athletes of your locality. They need projects like this sports complex and supportive officials like the ones you have here," Go said.

The sports complex, located at an old dumpsite in Barangay Muzon, will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, such as an open athletic field, Olympic-size pools, and covered basketball courts, as laid out in the local government development plan. Five hectares of the thirteen-hectare old dumpsite is allotted for the facilities.

The provincial government of Rizal decided to build the sports complex in Taytay after ceding the Marikina Sports Center to Marikina City, which used to be a municipality of the province.

Go said that athletes have long been in need of adequate support from the government. "Matagal nang kailangan ng ating mga atleta ang suporta. Napakarami sa ating mga kabataan ang magaling sa sports, ngunit iilan lang ang nagiging professional athletes dahil hindi po natutustusan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, kulang ang training at walang access sa maayos na facilities," he said.

"Karamihan sa kanila, naipapatuloy lang ang kanilang pangarap sa pamamagitan ng paglalaro sa mga pribadong koponan," he added.

He shared that he is helping address the problem by filing a Senate bill that seeks to establish the Philippine High School for Sports at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

"Sa paaralang ito, mag-aaral at the same time iti-train ka. Halimbawang hindi ka natuloy bilang professional athlete, at least natapos ka ng high school," the Senator explained.

Go's bill has been consolidated with the bills filed by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Sonny Angara and Pia Cayetano. It passed the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture and is now being discussed in the Senate plenary.