Lapid wants free insurance coverage for professional Filipino athletes

MANILA, Philippines—A bill seeking to provide all professional Filipino athletes who are competing in international sports competitions with free insurance coverage, has been filed in the Senate.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1152, also known as the “Professional Filipino Athletes Insurance Benefits Act,” Senator Lito Lapid said the government must provide insurance benefits that will cover the medical expenses, travel insurance, death benefits, among others, to professional Filipino athletes who are competing in any international professional sports competition or in other equally prestigious world championship games, in both individual and team events.

Once the proposed bill is enacted, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) shall immediately include in their programs the implementation of the benefits under the said measure, which will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

“Nais nating ibigay ang nararapat na suporta at parangal para sa ating mga atleta na dugo at pawis ang ipinuhunan para lamang maikatawan ang ating bansa sa mga international sports competitions,” Lapid, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, said in a statement Friday.

(We want to provide the athletes the appropriate support for the blood and sweat they invest just to represent our country in international sports competitions.)

Lapid noted that the proposed measure aims to recognize the “honor, glory, and pride that the Filipino athletes are bringing to the Philippines as they represent the country in the SEA Games and other prestigious tourneys.”

According to the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippines will be having the largest delegation in the 30th SEA Games with 1,115 athletes, and 753 coaches, which will begin on Nov. 30.

Edited by MUF