Senate bill wants bigger incentives for winning athletes

MANILA, Philippines — In recognition of the stellar performance of Filipino athletes in the recently-concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Senator Sonny Angara is seeking an increase of up to P100,000 in cash incentives for medalists.

Margarita Ochoa of the Philippines captured the gold medal in the 30th SEA Games’ women’s -45kg Jiu-Jitsu event

Angara has filed Senate Bill No. 1225 which aims to increase the cash incentives for podium finishes in the SEA Games and Asian-level sporting events.

“What our national athletes achieved in the SEA Games is truly historic and should be heralded. It was not only how they performed in their respective sports, but the way they carried themselves during the games that captured the hearts of Filipinos and our ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors alike,” Angara said in a statement on Friday.

“With such a stellar performance, it is only fitting that our national athletes and their coaches receive higher incentives from the government as they go on to compete in other international competitions,” he added.

The said bill seeks to amend Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act which Angara sponsored and was enacted into law in 2015.

Senate OKs bill granting bigger rewards to winning PH athletes

RA 10699 repealed the original Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001 in order to provide bigger benefits to the country’s national athletes, coaches and trainers whenever they win during international competitions.

Under Senate Bill No. 1225, gold medalists in the  Asian Beach Games and Asian-level competitions which are held at least every two years with at least 25 countries participating, and qualifying competitions for world-level and Asian-level games will receive a cash-incentive of P600,000 from the present P500,000; silver medalists will get P350,000 from the current P250,000; while bronze medalists will bring home P150,000 from P100,000.

For the SEA Games winners the cash incentive for gold medalists will go up from P300,000 to P400,000; from P150,000 to P200,000 for silver medalists and from P60,000 to P100,000 for bronze medalists.

For the ASEAN Para Games, gold medalists will receive a cash incentive of P200,000 from P150,000; silver medalists will receive P125,000 from P75,000; and bronze medalists will get P50,000 from P30,000.

“The added incentives will encourage Filipinos to engage in sports, especially those which have yet to attract mainstream popularity, and represent the country in the future,” Angara said.

GSG