The Philippine Sports Commission is diving into the world of competitive lifesaving, with plans to form a national team as the discipline gears up for its anticipated debut at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio confirmed the initiative following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to scale up water safety efforts nationwide.
While the program’s immediate goal is to combat a “silent epidemic” of drowning in the archipelago, the competitive path toward 2032 provides a high-performance framework for the agency’s grassroots safety mission.
“This is more than a sport; it’s a matter of survival,” Gregorio said. “The Philippines must seize this rare opportunity where sport and public safety converge.”
The PSC is strengthening its alliance with the Philippine Life Saving Society (PLS) to identify and train elite talent. PLS CEO Arne Navarra, who has long advocated for drowning prevention, aims to train 75,000 lifesavers to reach a level of “herd immunity” against water-related risks. while the competitive arm of the sport, surf lifesaving, is expected to draw thousands of athletes to the 2032 Games, offering a new arena for Filipino aquatic specialists.
The push for a national squad comes amid a renewed focus on provinces like La Union and Siargao. John Carby, an Australian surfing developer based in Siargao, will serve as a technical advisor for the program with the initiative gaining momentum after presidential son William Vincent “Vinny” Marcos and Carby briefed the President on the urgency of the situation following recent drowning tragedies involving children in San Juan, La Union.
Gregorio noted that the program will utilize the legal framework of Republic Act 10121, which mandates lifesaving training across various sectors. By forming a national team, the PSC hopes to destigmatize water activities for Filipinos who may fear the ocean while simultaneously building a roster capable of competing on the world stage.
According to PLS data, approximately 10,000 drowning incidents occur annually in the Philippines. By integrating Olympic-level training with community safety, the PSC intends to deploy trained lifesavers across all 18 regions of the country, transforming a public health crisis into a point of national athletic pride. NLMonitor
