Palaro Eyes ‘Hometown’ Rule for Student-Athletes

Student-athletes may soon represent their respective home provinces under the proposed “hometown” rule for the Palarong Pambansa.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said in March 2026 that student-athletes could eventually be allowed to represent their hometowns or original places of birth under a proposed “hometown” rule for the Palarong Pambansa.

Gregorio said the PSC would work with the Department of Education (DepEd) on the proposed policy, which aims to give athletes the opportunity to bring honor to the places where they originally came from.

Under the current setup, student-athletes generally compete for the province or region where their schools are located. The proposed rule would instead allow qualified athletes, particularly national pool players who have transferred elsewhere for training, to represent their hometown or original place of birth.

Gregorio said the move would also give national athletes the opportunity to compete in the Palarong Pambansa, sharpen their skills, and raise the level of competition.

The Palarong Pambansa remains the country’s largest grassroots sporting event, bringing together student-athletes from all 18 regions, including delegates from the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas.