Description
Objectives: This study examines the sport policy landscape in the Philippines, with a focus on governance, funding mechanisms, and policy priorities across historical and institutional developments.Theoretical background and Literature review: Drawing on systems thinking and institutional theory, the analysis situates the Philippine sport system within a framework that considers structural arrangements and national context conditions, including belief systems, culture, dominant interest groups, and historical development.
Methodology: Adopting a historical and policy analysis approach, the study synthesises archival records, legislation, and secondary literature. It traces the evolution of sport in the Philippines from pre-colonial physical activities through the Spanish and American colonial periods to contemporary institutional structures. The research assesses the roles of key institutions—such as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and local government units (LGUs)—in shaping policy. A financial analysis of PSC allocations from 2014 to 2023 highlights trends in resource distribution and institutional support.
Results/Findings and Discussion: In the Philippines, physical activity was a part of community life before being integrated into education and governance under American administration. Throughout the Spanish colonial period, organised sport was mainly limited to the elite. The creation of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) under American rule initiated centralised governance and introduced school-based sport participation. Over the years, the PAAF evolved from encouraging broad participation to focusing on competitive goals. In 1961, decentralisation reforms resulted in the establishment of National Sports Associations (NSAs), but their efficiency was hampered by uneven capacities and overlapping jurisdictions.
Under the Marcos regime, the focus was on developing elite sports through the establishment of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Project Gintong Alay, with most funding allocated to high-performance goals. While the PSC was created in 1990 to consolidate authority, governance remained fragmented. Subsequent administrations continued to emphasise elite sport, launching additional initiatives such as “Sports for All” and Batang Pinoy. However, the implementation of these programs has been constrained by overlapping roles among the PSC, POC, NSAs, and LGUs.
The Philippine sport system includes governmental agencies, intermediary organisations (POC, PPC, AFP), and non-governmental actors. Structural fragmentation remains a critical issue. Public sport funding is sourced from the National Sports Development Fund and the General Appropriations Act, while private investment is concentrated in elite and professional sport. PSC expenditure patterns between 2014 and 2023 show significant fluctuations linked to hosting obligations, with 71.2% of the 2023 budget allocated to elite sport. Although incentives for international medallists are high by international standards, broad-based participation remains underfunded. Programmes such as Batang Pinoy and Laro’t Saya sa Parke aim to promote grassroots sport, yet participation levels remain low, and many initiatives serve as talent identification mechanisms rather than inclusive engagement platforms.
Conclusion: Institutional dynamics are influenced by a cultural logic that associates sport with national recognition and prestige. This belief system, reinforced by incentive structures, restricts investment in broad participation. Although state, market, and community logics coexist, prevailing interest groups maintain a policy focus on elite sport. Findings highlight the necessity for more cohesive governance and funding frameworks to promote inclusive and sustainable sport development.
| Period | 23 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Asian Association for Sport Management (AASM) Conference: Sport cities and sustainable events driven by technology: Future developments and challenges |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Taipei, Taiwan, Province of ChinaShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |