PUTTING a greater premium on grassroots sports development, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) opened the new year on a strong note with the launch of its new national initiative, Grassroots to Gold, designed to strengthen the country’s sports pipeline from schools to elite competition.
Under the program, the PSC distributed ₱500,000 worth of strength and conditioning equipment and rolled out free coaching seminars and teacher training through the Philippine Sports Institute.
The initiative is set to benefit 300 sports-oriented schools nationwide, reinforcing foundational training and athlete development at the grassroots level.
Grassroots to Gold, one of the main projects of PSC under Chairman Patrick Gregorio, is being implemented in partnership with the Department of Education, following a directive from the Office of the President to establish a comprehensive national grassroots sports program for Filipino youth.
The project’s proof of concept was launched last November at Bellarmino High School in Quezon City, marking the first concrete step toward building a stronger and more sustainable pathway from school-based sports programs to national team development.
One of the PSC’s major achievements in 2025 was laying the groundwork for Regional Training Centers (RTCs) across the country, a move aimed at bringing high-performance training closer to athletes in the regions with the full support of the Office of the President.
Initial sites include Candon, Ilocos Sur, which is being positioned as an advanced hub for archery; Malaybalay, Bukidnon, which is set to open facilities for boxing and sepak takraw; UP Mindanao, where construction has resumed for swimming and other sports; and Siargao, which is emerging as a key center for water sports such as surfing and beach sprint rowing.
