By: Waylon Galvez
The Philippine Sports Commission hailed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approving the creation of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) through Administrative Order No. 38.
The President has mandated the NST-IAC to “harmonize, coordinate, and oversee all government initiatives to develop, promote, and sustain sports tourism in the country.”
According to the order, the NST-IAC was established to oversee the “development, promotion, and implementation of sports tourism initiatives.”
Under Administrative Order No. 38, signed by the President on October 29, 2025, PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio will lead the NST-IAC, with his counterpart from the Department of Tourism serving as vice chairperson. Members of the committee include representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
Gregorio described the NST-IAC as “an invaluable recognition of how sports can enable the youth, enable regional development, enable tourism and enable new industries.”
The PSC chief emphasized, “We understand our role. We are enablers. Whether it’s working with DepEd for grassroots development or with the DOT for sports tourism, sports will be a key catalyst and driver of the national agenda.”
Gregorio noted that the President—an avid sportsman and one of the biggest supporters of Filipino athletes—recognizes that hosting major international sports events serves as an ideal platform to showcase the country before a global audience.
“The biggest tourism events in the world are sports events. Sports is a multibillion industry and the Philippines can absolutely position itself as a sports hub in the Southeast Asian region,” said Gregorio, citing the full support and cooperation of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
“This is best done in close partnership with the DOT and LGUs that will be hosting these events,” he added.
The creation of the NST-IAC follows the country’s successful hosting of the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023 and the FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championship 2025. This month, the Philippines is also set to host the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup and the Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
The NST-IAC aims to “strengthen the Philippines’ position as a premier international sports destination,” while also helping to “generate employment, attract investments, stimulate local economies, and contribute to infrastructure and tourism development.”
The committee’s creation aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, which “highlights the need to expand the country’s participation in major international events and investment missions to strengthen positive global perceptions of the Philippines.”
Gregorio, appointed by President Marcos as PSC chairman last July, reaffirmed that the Commission recognizes sports tourism as a “key driver of economic growth, cultural exchange, and international recognition.”
Also part of the initiative is the Private Sector Advisory Council–Tourism Sector Group (PSAC-TSG), headed by Lance Gokongwei. During a meeting with the President at Malacañang on September 30, the PSAC-TSG recommended adopting a tourism marketing strategy anchored on sports.
