Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio has unveiled an ambitious proposal that could reshape the future of sports development in the country, calling for the establishment of the Philippines’ first-ever Sports University under the University of the Philippines (UP) System.
Gregorio introduced the vision during his commencement address to the graduating class of the UP College of Human Kinetics at the Varsity Training Center, where he urged one of the country’s most respected academic institutions to spearhead a transformative initiative that would elevate sports beyond competition and position it as a key driver of education, research, innovation, economic development, and nation-building.
The proposal reflects Gregorio’s broader vision of creating a comprehensive institution dedicated to the advancement of sports in the Philippines. Rather than focusing solely on athlete development, the Sports University would serve as a center of excellence for sports science, coaching, physical education, sports medicine, nutrition, sports psychology, sports management, biomechanics, and high-performance research. It would also provide aspiring athletes with opportunities to pursue higher education while continuing to compete at the highest level.
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Addressing the graduating students, Gregorio challenged the UP community to embrace a pioneering role in shaping the future of Philippine sports, emphasizing that sustained international success requires more than talent alone. He stressed the need to develop a complete ecosystem that nurtures athletes while also producing the coaches, trainers, researchers, administrators, and sports professionals who play equally vital roles behind the scenes.
The proposal has already received strong support from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman Alejandro “Al” Tengco, whose agency remains one of the PSC’s largest funding partners through its legally mandated contribution to Philippine sports.
Speaking during a recent event, Tengco endorsed the concept and expressed his willingness to work closely with the PSC to help turn the vision into reality.
“It’s about time that our country creates a Sports University. Chairman Pato and I discussed how we can help each other beyond Pagcor’s monthly support to the PSC. I fully support the idea of building a sports university,” Tengco said.
PAGCOR plays a crucial role in the country’s sports development program through its court-mandated five percent share of gross gaming revenues allocated to the PSC. The contribution amounts to nearly P400 million every month, translating to approximately P5 billion annually, making it the backbone of funding for national athletes, grassroots initiatives, training programs, and international competitions.
‘IT HAS NEVER BEEN LIKE THIS’
Joining the conversation on #MemoWithKorina, Patrick Gregorio, Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), expressed his take on how the national government supports Philippine athletes.
Gregorio shared that starting in January 2026, the… pic.twitter.com/myZ4GUk8KM
— Bilyonaryo News Channel (@bncdotph) July 9, 2026
According to Tengco, the increased financial support has helped fuel the country’s recent rise on the international sporting stage, where Filipino athletes have continued to deliver strong performances across multiple disciplines.
However, he emphasized that funding alone does not guarantee success, pointing instead to the leadership and governance within the PSC as equally important factors behind the country’s sporting progress.
“If you noticed, there are many Filipino athletes who have been winning lately. One reason is the funding from Pagcor – that’s our support to Philippine sports. But more than that, it’s the vision and governance of PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio. No matter how big the budget is, if you cannot allocate it well, use it efficiently, and it doesn’t reach the athletes the right way, there’s no use,” he added.
Gregorio’s proposal arrives at a significant moment for Philippine sports. In recent years, the country has celebrated unprecedented achievements on the global stage, highlighted by Olympic, world championship, and continental successes across sports such as boxing, weightlifting, gymnastics, athletics, billiards, and esports. These accomplishments have underscored the growing potential of Filipino athletes while also exposing the need for stronger institutional support to sustain long-term excellence.
A dedicated Sports University could address many of those needs by integrating elite athletic training with academic education and scientific research under one institution. Similar models have proven successful in countries with established high-performance sports systems, where universities serve as hubs for innovation, talent identification, athlete development, and coaching education.
Beyond producing future champions, the proposed institution would also help professionalize careers in sports by developing experts in sports medicine, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, performance analytics, event management, sports governance, and sports technology. Such a multidisciplinary approach could strengthen every level of the Philippine sporting ecosystem while creating new career opportunities for Filipinos interested in the industry.
Although the proposal remains in its conceptual stage and would require extensive collaboration among the UP System, the national government, Congress, and key stakeholders, it has already sparked discussions about the future direction of Philippine sports development.
For Gregorio, the vision extends far beyond medals and championships. His proposal seeks to build a lasting institution that can produce not only world-class athletes but also the educators, scientists, coaches, administrators, and innovators who will shape the country’s sporting landscape for generations to come.
If realized, the establishment of a Sports University under the UP System could become one of the most significant milestones in Philippine sports history, providing a sustainable foundation for excellence while reinforcing sports as a powerful instrument for education, national pride, and inclusive development.
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