National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) AlL 14 10:36 SENATE -..+. S. No. 474 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT UPGRADING THE INCENTIVES FOR ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES WHO WIN MEDALS IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 8 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10699, OTHERWISE INCENTIVES ACT" KNOWN AS "THE NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES BENEFITS AND EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act No. 10699, otherwise known as the "National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act", was enacted in November 2015. The law repealed Republic Act No. 9064 or the "Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001" to increase twice over the amount of cash incentives for national athletes who win gold, silver and bronze medals in international competitions and bring honor and pride to the country. However, under Section 8 of RA 10699, Paralympians who will be able to secure first, second or third place finish in the world stage will only be entitled to half of the cash incentives when compared to their Olympic counterparts. As provided therein: a) Gold medalists in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games will get P10 million, while gold medalists in the Paralympic Games will receive P5 million. b) Silver medalists in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games will get P5 million, while silver medalists in the Paralympic Games will receive P2.5 million.

c) Bronze medalists in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games will get P2 million, while bronze medalists in the Paralympic Games will receive P1 million. The same is true for the Asian and Southeast Asian sports meet, wherein athletes with disabilities are entitled to only half of the incentives when compared to their able-bodied peers. This proposed measure seeks to remedy the discrepancy of financial benefits among our national athletes who demonstrate the same level of commitment, hard work, and excellence in sports. The amendment promotes equality and inclusivity in the discipline, as it recognizes their common achievements in prestigious competitions and the inspiration they bring to the Filipino people. In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

!"!. TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 MIL 14 NO:36 SENATE --== S. No. Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT UPGRADING THE INCENTIVES FOR ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES WHO WIN MEDALS IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS COMPETITIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 8 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10699, OTHERWISE INCENTIVES ACT" KNOWN AS "THE NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES BENEFITS AND Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Section 8 of the Republic Act 10699, otherwise known as the as the

"National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act", is hereby amended to read as follows: "Sec. 8. Cash Incentives for Athletes. - National athletes and other athletes who are not officially or currently members of the national training pool but who have otherwise represented the country in international sports competitions, who win gold, silver and bronze medals in international sports competitions shall be entitled to cash incentives in the following amounts: "a. Individual Events "(1) For Gold Medalists: "(i) Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) and an Olympic Gold Medal of Valor to be issued by the PSC for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games AND PARALYMPIC GAMES;

"(ii) Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) and an Olympic Gold Medal of Valor to be issued by the PSC for Youth Olympic tand Paralympic Games]; "(iii) Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, ASIAN PARA GAMES and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games; "(iv) One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for [Asian Para Games-and] World-level competitions held at least every two years with at least forty-five (45) countries participating; "(v) Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games; AND "(vi) Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) for SEA Games AND ASEAN PARA GAMES L; and]. E(vii) One hundred fifty thousand peses (P150,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games. ] "(2) For Silver Medalists: "(i) Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games AND PARALYMPIC GAMES; "(ii) Two million five hundred thousand pesos (P2,500,000.00) for Youth Olympic Games [and Paralympic Games]; "(iii) One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, ASIAN PARA GAMES, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games; "(iv) Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for [Asian Para Games and] World-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least forty- five (45) countries participating; "(v) Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competitions held at least

every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games; AND "(vi) One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00) for SEA Games AND ASEAN PARA GAMES E; and]: "[(vii) Seventy five thousand pesos (P75,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games.] "(3) For Bronze Medalists: "(i) Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games AND PARALYMPIC GAMES; "ii) One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for Youth Olympic Games [and Paralympic Games]; "(iii) Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00) for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, ASIAN PARA GAMES, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games; "(iv) Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) for [Asian- Para Games and] World-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least forty-five (45) countries participating; "(v) One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian level games; AND "(vi) Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) for SEA Games AND ASEAN PARA GAMES [; and]. "[(vii) Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games. ]"

Sec. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

2 parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

4 publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,