DAGUPAN CITY— The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has unveiled Dagupan City as Pangasinan’s Regional Training Center for gymnastics and swimming and opened the newly refurbished PSC track oval inside Teachers' Camp in Baguio City to the public.
“We believe talent should be nurtured where it is found. By establishing Regional Training Centers, we ensure that children don’t have to leave their homes just to access world-class facilities. We bring the opportunities to them,” said PSC chairman Patrick 'Pato' Gregorio after signing the memorandum of agreement with Dagupan officials led by Mayor Belen Fernandez.
As part of the collaboration, the PSC and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP), led by president Cynthia Carrion, donated the very same equipment that Carlos Yulo trained on before becoming a world champion and clinching double Olympic gold in Paris 2024 to the Dagupan facilities.
“Our vision is to decentralize access to premium training. Every province deserves the chance to raise its own heroes and champions, without uprooting kids from their communities. You don’t have to come to us, we will go to you,” said Gregorio.
Elite guidance for grassroots talent
National team coaches will also be deployed periodically to mentor local coaches and athletes, ensuring grassroots talent receives elite-level guidance.
Dagupan City gymnastics coach Jhune Sajonas and swimming coach Jeremy Jizmundo are proud products of the city’s grassroots program.
Dagupan is already maximizing the new hub through its summer sports camps, exposing students to gymnastics and swimming during their school break. The program promotes healthy lifestyles while nurturing dreams of athletic excellence.
Meanwhile, Gregorio and Baguio Mayor Benjie Magalong led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Track Oval in Teacher's Camp, which will be used by national athletes in the morning and opened to the public every day from 3 to 10 p.m..
The PSC will announce schedules weekly for the information of the runners.
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