PHMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar commended the Philippine delegation to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, for bagging 29 medals — four golds, nine silvers, and 16 bronzes — the country’s largest medal haul in 60 years.
“The 29-medal haul of our athletes proves how great the potential of Filipinos is in sports. Congratulations to our athletes. You are an inspiration to our youth,” Villar said in Filipino in a statement on Wednesday.
For Villar, the country’s Asian Games performance shows that Filipino athletes can excel across different sports given sustained support.
“That’s why we need a long-term plan to ensure that the next generations will be ready to take over and carry the Philippine flag on the international stage,” he said.
According to him, this is the direction of his Senate Bill No. 2531, or the proposed “Roadmap for Sports Excellence Act,” which seeks to establish a 20-year national framework for sports development, from grassroots talent identification and training to elite and international competition.
“The 29-medal haul of our athletes proves how great the potential of Filipinos is in sports. Congratulations to our athletes. You are an inspiration to our youth,” Villar said in Filipino in a statement on Wednesday.
For Villar, the country’s Asian Games performance shows that Filipino athletes can excel across different sports given sustained support.
“That’s why we need a long-term plan to ensure that the next generations will be ready to take over and carry the Philippine flag on the international stage,” he said.
According to him, this is the direction of his Senate Bill No. 2531, or the proposed “Roadmap for Sports Excellence Act,” which seeks to establish a 20-year national framework for sports development, from grassroots talent identification and training to elite and international competition.