Long celebrated as a sports-loving nation, the Philippines continues to see talented athletes fueled by dedication and resilience across different competition levels. But behind every medal earned is a less talked-about system, one that often falls short in nurturing its athletes. Today, the Philippines’ grassroots sports programs are experiencing a quiet crisis that threatens the future of the nation’s athletic competitiveness.
In many local communities, chronic underfunding continues to plague the provision of basic training, equipment, and facilities. Despite the presence of sports infrastructures, many continue to degrade due to a lack of proper maintenance. Some of the biggest issues in Philippine sports stem from internal government obstacles, especially the lack of a dedicated department for sports development to steer grassroots programs in the right direction. Thus, the government must address the systemic issues present in Philippine sports—funding, program development, and sustainability—to safeguard its future and ensure that Filipino talent comes with the proper support system.
Calling it out
In spite of the prevalence of sports in the Philippines, the country’s decaying grassroots program demonstrably lacks sufficient and consistent support. Office of Sports Development Executive Director Gina Bernardo, a former national athlete, emphasized funding as a key reason for the underdevelopment of Philippine sports. “There’s a budget for sports—is it being used in the right way? That’s a big question mark,” she stated, highlighting how the issue is not the absence of funds, but rather a lack of strategic deployment. “The role of [the] government, essentially, is to build venues, community sports centers.” This emphasizes that the absence of proper infrastructure is an obstacle affecting accessibility for Filipino athletes at the grassroots level.
Additionally, most sporting facilities in the country are catered for basketball, hindering the development of other sports. Davao Del Norte Sports Head Giovanni Gulanes also provided his insights into the issue, mentioning the role local government units play. “Bilang LGU—at alam kong maliit lang ang pondo niyo—why don’t you give it to sports na hindi kilala pero kailangan? We are talking about Olympic sports.” This brings up another related issue: non-mainstream, yet Olympic, sports are neglected in favor of their more popular counterparts. Gulanes added that where the government has fallen short, the private sector has often been able to step in, thus keeping programs alive. A notable example of this is the significant contributions from private entities like Manny V. Pangilinan’s group, a wealthy conglomerate with large investments across many different sectors, which has supported the development of multiple sports in the country.
(As an LGU, and you knew you were short on money, why don’t you give it to unpopular sports that need it? We are talking about Olympic sports.)
To address such gaps, Bernardo calls for a renewed perspective among stakeholders. “I believe in a bottom-up approach. In Japan, there are community sports centers all around. And that’s a government mandate. At least, gather interest and improve the school programs.” Bernardo also called for the development and professionalization of coaches to address the issues. In contrast to the Philippines, other nations require training for all physical education teachers, showing just how flourishing grassroots sports development programs translate to a more developed sporting nation.
The training ground
Grassroots sports are more than just a stage in an athlete’s journey. They are where everything begins—the foundation where future champions and flag bearers are first shaped. As Gulanes emphasized, “Grassroots [programs], ito ‘yung nagpo-provide, ito ‘yung nagsu-supply ng mga top-notch caliber athletes natin sa elite [level].” Yet despite their crucial role, facilities across the country remain inadequate, and the programs themselves are sorely lacking.
(Grassroots [programs], these are the ones that provide and supply top-notch caliber athletes that we have at the elite [level].)
The harsh reality is that sports have always been an area of budget cuts, as if their funding has been enough to begin with. “People love to cut sports,” Bernardo even remarked. Gulanes also pointed out the definitional confusion surrounding grassroots development in the eyes of the Philippine government. “Kung sa tingin ng national government ang grassroots ay competition, mukhang may mali nga.” The perception of grassroots sports revolving around tournaments and talent display undermines the essence of what the program is supposed to achieve: the sustainable growth of athletes. Thus, Gulanes argues that there should be an actual development plan that involves teaching the correct form, exercise, strength, and conditioning. In the absence of these, the very training ground meant to nurture the next generation of Filipino athletes grows increasingly barren.
(If the national government thinks that grassroots means competition, maybe there is something wrong.)
On another note, the physical arena of grassroots sports is in no better shape. In many local communities, even the most basic facilities are unavailable. Gulanes stressed how most athletes at the grassroots level rely purely on raw talent, forced to train in substandard conditions. “Sa probinsya hindi uso ‘yung strength and conditioning. Pagkatapos matuto [nang] kaunti, may tournament kaagad.”
(In the provinces, strength and conditioning isn’t a thing. As soon as they learn a little, they go for tournaments already.)
Basic infrastructures remain near-luxury for most LGUs, highlighting the deep systemic inequality that undercuts athlete development. As Gulanes pointed out, “Paano ‘yung 90 percent ng mga LGUs na walang oval, paano ‘yung mga karamihan na LGUs na walang barbell, paano ‘yung mga karamihan na LGUs na walang sports science? Bara bara pa rin ang pagte-training.” For local communities working with a very tight budget, Bernardo suggests using venues as multi-sports facilities with simple adjustments. In this context, turning to creative solutions may be the only way to deal with the cards with which Philippine sports has been dealt. At the end of the day, a training ground, both the infrastructure and the program, cannot produce champions if left to decay.
(What about the 90 percent of LGUs that don’t have an oval? What about the majority of LGUs that don’t have barbells? What about those without sports science? Training is still done sloppily.)
Purpose despite hurdles
Despite persistent hurdles in Philippine sports—ranging from limited facilities to a fragile grassroots system—the commitment to nurture young athletes remains strong for individuals like Gulanes. For him, the Davao Del Norte Provincial Sports and Youth Development Office’s foremost goal is to provide athletes with access to well-deserved education. “Napaka-importante na i-set [ito] as our objective…not everyone could make the cut, not everyone could hurdle from provincial to regional competition, [and] not everyone could go to Palarong Pambansa,” he explains. Overall, the academy looks to hone athletes from the grassroots level and develop a steady pipeline of players who will compete and excel on the world stage.
(It is very important to set this as our objective…not everyone could make the cut, not everyone could hurdle from provincial to regional competition, and not everyone could go to Palarong Pambansa.)
For Bernardo, supporting student-athletes is more than a role—it’s her purpose. “I saw what sports did for me in my life and how it brought me everywhere in the world.” She believes student-athletes embody the best of Lasallian values
Her long-standing commitment to La Salle stems from her belief in the leadership it fosters. Beyond the athletes, Bernardo also finds purpose in the sacrifices made by coaches and managers. “I find so much fulfillment, not just in athletes, but in coaches,” she shares, expounding on their unwavering dedication as her inspiration in molding her mission.
Course of action
The challenges facing the Philippine sports ecosystem demand more than just recognition—they require a massive shift in how sports are nurtured from the ground up. Strengthening grassroots development must become a national priority, with policymakers redefining Philippine sports, not solely as a competition, but as a “tool for social cohesion, peace, and education,” as Guilanes suggested.
Bernardo echoes this, noting that sports can help achieve as many as eight Sustainable Development Goals. Prioritizing infrastructure is crucial in building the foundation for the youth, but doing so begins with accessible spaces, such as community parks, rubberized tracks, and shared-use facilities that welcome all. Tapping into talents from diverse backgrounds, empowering regional strengths, and developing sport-specific hubs beyond Metro Manila will elevate the overall quality of the nation’s sports ecosystem, giving rise to athletes from underserved areas.
Creating a nationwide focus on sports will not only improve the standard of competition but also enhance the overall health and well-being of all Filipinos. After all, sports is a universal language. It is a language we must develop from every barangay in the country to the global stage.
