Dagupan City officially became Pangasinan’s Regional Training Center for gymnastics and swimming after the Philippine Sports Commission formalized a major partnership designed to expand grassroots athlete development and decentralize access to world-class sports training.

PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio and Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez signed the Memorandum of Agreement alongside PSC commissioners and local education and sports officials, establishing the city as a premier provincial hub for nurturing future Filipino champions. The move ensures young athletes can now train closer to home while accessing elite-level resources previously concentrated in Metro Manila.

A major highlight of the collaboration was the donation of gymnastics equipment once used by double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, providing Dagupan’s aspiring gymnasts with championship-level tools that symbolize the city’s expanding sports ambitions.

PSC expands access

Gregorio stressed that the Regional Training Center initiative is centered on bringing opportunities directly to communities where talent already exists rather than forcing athletes to relocate. The strategy reflects the PSC’s broader commitment to creating equal access to premium sports development across the country.

National team coaches will also conduct periodic visits to mentor local coaches and athletes, helping strengthen Dagupan’s grassroots system through elite instruction. This approach creates stronger pathways from provincial talent pools to national competition.

Dagupan’s youth sports programs are already maximizing the facility through summer camps in gymnastics and swimming, exposing more children to structured athletic development. Local participation has surged as improved infrastructure inspires greater community engagement.

City boosts youth

Mayor Fernandez welcomed the partnership as a transformative investment in Dagupan’s young athletes, emphasizing that the city’s families previously carried the burden of regular travel to Manila just to secure proper training. The new center now allows aspiring athletes to pursue high-performance goals without leaving their home province.

Local gymnastics coach Jhune Sajonas and swimming coach Jeremy Jizmundo, both products of Dagupan’s grassroots sports system, now play central roles in developing future athletes. Their return to serve the community reflects the sustainability of local sports investment.

With youth gymnastics participation climbing significantly and more regional centers planned nationwide, Dagupan now stands as a key part of the PSC’s growing network of decentralized sports hubs. The initiative reinforces national efforts to build future champions by empowering communities directly.