Groundbreaking and memorandum of agreement signing on Saturday (Feb. 28, 2026) for the 5,000-square-meter sports training facility John Hay Sports Center inside Camp John Hay in Baguio City. (PSC photo)
A new chapter in Philippine sports development will take shape in the mountains of the Cordillera as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) formalized their partnership to build the John Hay Sports Center in Baguio City.
The groundbreaking and memorandum of agreement sealed plans for a modern 5,000-square-meter sports training facility to rise on a 6,000-square-meter lot within the iconic mountain estate, further cementing the summer capital’s position as a premier sports tourism destination.
PSC Chair Patrick Gregorio said the collaboration is anchored on responsibility and confidence.
Gregorio was instrumental in assisting the BCDA during its takeover of Camp John Hay in January 2025, then serving as a senior official of real estate developer Landco Pacific Corporation under the MVP Group.
“That is why we are here today. This project, too, is a responsibility built on trust and hope,” Gregorio said in a news release Sunday.
Gregorio signed the agreement with BCDA chair Hilario Paredes and president/chief executive officer Joshua Bingcang on Saturday, along with John Hay Management Corporation president Manjit Singh Reandi, BCDA senior vice president Mark Torres, and PSC Commissioners Fritz Gaston and Walter Torres.
“Many of our athletes from the Cordillera region have to travel far and train without stability. A regional training ground here in John Hay changes that. It gives our athletes not just from Northern Luzon, but all over the Philippines a place they can call their own,” Paredes said.
Unlike traditional single-sport venues, the John Hay Sports Center is envisioned as a multi-disciplinary training facility.
It will accommodate basketball, volleyball, futsal, netball, handball and floorball, among others, providing a high-altitude training environment long recognized for building endurance and competitive edge.
“This milestone was made possible because we chose to work together. No politics, no personal agenda, just one goal to support Filipino athletes,” Paredes said.
The concept responds directly to the needs of schools, professional teams and national sports associations seeking centralized, high-quality training camps within the country.
Gregorio underscored the demand for a high-end, high-altitude facility for pre-competition training camps.
Instead of sending athletes overseas for training camps, teams can now converge in Baguio, benefiting from its cool climate, elevation, and proven training tradition, he said.
“With this facility, we tell our athletes that they are truly valued. Thanks to PSC, they really ensure that grassroots development reaches the entire nation, because this facility will not only serve Baguio but the entire region as well,” Bingcang said.
Gregorio, also chair of the National Sports Tourism Inter Agency Committee, said the project timeline could be accelerated with a target completion of 12 to 16 months.
Baguio’s reputation as a training ground for athletes is deeply rooted. Its altitude, cooler temperatures, and serene environment have long attracted boxers, runners and national teams preparing for major competitions.
“You can just imagine professional teams, collegiate teams, corporate teams, communities,” Gregorio said. “This is really the showcase, a destination for sports tourism.”
Beyond athletic development, the project marks a strategic shift in how government sports facilities are managed.
“This facility will strengthen national training while generating sustainable revenue to support our regional training centers across the country,” he said.
Inspired by BCDA’s development model, the collaboration ensures that while elite athletes and national sports programs remain supported, the facility will also be open to the general public.
Gregorio said the model ensures long-term viability while setting a blueprint for other government agencies and local government units to follow. (PSC Media)