Culture
Need a Place to Run? These Government-Owned Track Ovals Are Now Free for All
Following Marcos' SONA directive to promote fitness.
Published on Jul 29, 2025
(SPOT.ph) Open spaces where you can freely go for a
run are hard to come by in Metro Manila, but that’s now changing. President
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine Sports Commission
(PSC) to open its track ovals to the public—for free.
In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, Marcos
said the track ovals will be made accessible so
Filipinos can jog, walk, or just move around as part of a daily fitness
routine. The directive covers three PSC-managed facilities in the country: Philsports Complex in Pasig, Simeon Toribio Track Stadium in Manila, and Baguio Track Oval in Baguio City.
The goal is to tackle the rising rates of obesity among adults by
making it easier to get some exercise in.
“Simula ngayon, bubuksan ng Philippine Sports Commission ang kanilang track oval sa Pasig, Manila at Baguio upang makapag-jogging na kayo nang libre," Marcos said during his speech. “Nakikita natin ang sobrang pagtaas ng timbang ng ating mga
kababayang edad 20 at pataas kaya sikapin nating maging mas aktibo ang ating
pamumuhay araw-araw. Ipalaganap natin ang
pagsasagawa ng mga palaro at mga paliga, mga fun runs at fun walks, pati na rin
mga pa-aerobics at pa-zumba.”
Although Marcos' order takes effect immediately, no details have been released about scheduling at the track ovals. We’ll update this article as soon as there’s word from the PSC.
Also read: 10 Running Essentials and Where to Buy Them
PSC track ovals in the Philippines
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PhilSports Complex in Pasig City
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Click to Enlarge
Photo from Mariel Roja.
Located inside the PhilSports Complex along Meralco Avenue
in Pasig City, the oval is a roughly 400‑ to 500‑meter rubberized track used
for national athletics training.
The facility has hosted major sports events since the 1980s,
including Palarong Pambansa and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games trials.
Before
Marcos’ directive, the public could jog there for a small fee, usually around P35,
during limited hours.
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Simeon Toribio Track Stadium in Manila
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Click to Enlarge
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
This oval surrounds a 12,800-seat football pitch within the
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, one of the oldest sports facilities in
Asia that was established in 1934. The stadium has seen countless national and
international events, including a major facelift for the 2019 SEA Games. It was
renamed in 2021 after Olympian Simeon Toribio.
Before the new policy, public access wasn’t exactly
straightforward as permits or fees were usually required.
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Baguio Track Oval in Baguio City
Click to Enlarge
Photo from Facebook/Baguio Public Information Office.
Not to be mistaken with the Athletic Bowl at Burnham Park, the Baguio Track Oval can be found inside Teachers’ Camp along Leonard Wood Road. It’s mostly flown under the radar since it was mostly restricted to national
athletes with PSC approval.
Just this week, however, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong confirmed that the oval is lined up for rehabilitation, so it’s unclear how public access will be affected while work is in progress.
Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself in a pole studio or napping with her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.
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