EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2343
FILED
Auqust
TIME¥
BILLS
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ILOCOS NORTE SPORTS INSTITUTE AND 
RESEARCH (INSPIRE) IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that "The 
State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports 
to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total 
human liberation and development." Further, Article XIV, Section 19 of the same 
Constitution provides that "The State shall promote physical education and encourage 
sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for 
international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the 
development of a healthy and alert citizenry."
On 26 July 2021, Hidilyn Diaz became the Philippines' first ever Olympic gold 
medalist, having won the gold medal in the 55-kilogram category of women's 
weightlifting in Tokyo, Japan. She first tried weightlifting at the age of eleven by only 
tagging along her cousin in Zamboanga with no formal training.
According to a publication of Bustle, for most athletes competing, that talent 
captivating the world was built after years and years of training and for a large number 
of Olympic-level athletes, training to participate in the Olympic Games starts as early 
as childhood. Simone Biles was reportedly six years old when she began training to 
be a gymnast. Michael Phelps began training to be the Olympic swimmer he is when 
he was seven years old. And snowboarder Chloe Kim began snowboarding at four 
years old, and entered her first competition when she was six years old.
Generally, athletes start to train as early as two to five years old to win the gold 
and Philippines should not be an exception to this. Hidilyn's win in Japan definitely 
proved that it is possible for a Filipino to win the Olympic gold. As such, it is but 
imperative for the government to step-up and fulfill the mandate of the Constitution


to provide a haven where Filipino Olympians will be molded and at the same time 
afford the athletes to receive their proper education while training.
This bill seeks to establish a sports academy in the Province Ilocos Norte to be 
known as Ilocos Norte Sports Institute and Research (INSPIRE), which will serve as 
an exclusive educational facility for special program for sports, sports tract, and 
primary and indigenous sports development and training center. INSPIRE will also 
serve as a research center for sports medicine and nutrition for athletes.
In view of the foregoing, the expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2343
August
T>ME
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ILOCOS NORTE SPORTS INSTITUTE AND 
RESEARCH (INSPIRE) IN THE PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
1 
SECTION 1. There shall be established in the Province of Ilocos Norte a sports
2 
academy to be known as Ilocos Norte Sports Institute and Research (INSPIRE), which
3 
shall be constituted as an exclusive educational facility for special program for sports,
4 
sports tract, and primary and indigenous sports development and training center as
5 
well as a research center for sports medicine and nutrition for athletes.
6 
SEC. 2. The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, in coordination with the
7 
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), shall take the necessary steps to upgrade,
8 
improve and modernize existing facilities, equipment and personnel, and integrate
9 
them into the newly created INSPIRE.
10 
The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, in coordination with the PSC, shall
11 
create the necessary training programs and competitions, as well as the system by
12 
which the facilities shall be maintained and managed in order to accomplish the
13 
objectives and purposes of this Act.
14 
SEC. 3. The construction, establishment and operation of the locos Norte Sports
15 
Institute and Research shall be funded by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte
16 
and such funds as may be granted by the PSC and by the Office of the President.
17 
The Ilocos Norte Sports Development Office (INSDO) shall oversee the
18 
management, operation and upkeep of provincial sports facilities and other venues
19 
related to INSPIRE.
20 
SEC. 4. The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the Department's
21 
programs the operation of INSPIRE, the funding of which shall be included in the
22 
annual General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 5. The PSC, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), 
and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, shall promulgate the necessary rules 
and regulations for the implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after its 
enactment into law.
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,