EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday joined President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the refurbished PhilSports Complex, reinforcing the government’s broader efforts to integrate sports development into holistic education.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, and Philippine Olympics Committee President Abraham N. Tolentino were also present in Pasig City.

According to the Department of Education, the upgraded complex now features improved dormitories, a redesigned Philippine Sports Museum, rehabilitated aquatic facilities, and modernized PSC offices. The improvements aim to support high-performance athletes while expanding access to youth sports programs nationwide.

In his message, Angara emphasized the importance of renewed sports facilities for DepEd’s grassroots sports programs.

“Sa loob ng maraming dekada, ang iba’t ibang sports complex sa bansa ang nagsilbing tunay na tahanan ng ating mga pambatong atleta,” Angara said.

“With the country hosting the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup starting this Friday, DepEd gives its full support to PSC and the Marcos administration in strengthening sports programs to uplift the Filipino spirit of discipline and excellence.”

DepEd added that the day’s events highlight the complementary roles of disaster response, youth development, and infrastructure improvement in fulfilling the administration’s education-centered vision.

“Whether in evacuation centers or national training grounds, the direction is clear—education, child welfare, and youth development remain at the core of government action,” Angara said.