In a virtual joint hearing, the panels headed by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo and Isabela Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III agreed to endorse House Bill 9386 for plenary discussions.

Bill author and Baguio City Rep. Mark Go said establishing a sports high school in Baguio City would open a lot of opportunities for young athletes in Northern Luzon, which may be replicated in many strategic locations across the archipelago. 

In addition, Go said many studies have shown that training in high altitudes improves athletic performance. 

“With the creation of the Baguio City Sports High School, not only will the country raise generations of world-class athletes. It will also raise sports awareness and interest among the Filipino youth,” said Go in the explanatory note of HB 9386. 

He said during the hearing that the contemplation of the bill is to have the Baguio City Sports High School as an independent body under the Department of Education. 

But in the future, he said its program can be made to align with that of the National Academy of Sports System. 

Meanwhile, Dy also sponsored the bill, saying that Baguio City is ideal for altitude training because of its low temperature and high elevation of about 4,600 to 5,200 feet above sea level. 

Philippine Sports Commission National Training Director Marc Velasco said they have no objection to the bill. 

Under the bill, the Baguio City Sports High School would be administered and supervised by the DepEd, in close coordination with the PSC, for policy and program formulation and implementation, as well as for technical assistance. 

The school would implement a general secondary curriculum, with a special focus on sports that would develop the athletic skills and potentials of high school students.