National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act

THE PHILIP TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE RECEIVED REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES JOL 1 7 2025 ₴ First Regular Session ) • TIME: 4:29 SENATE BY: - BALS g /INDEX S. No. Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT FURTHER EXPANDING THE INCENTIVES AND ALLOWANCES GRANTED TO NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10699, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT" EXPLANATORY NOTE According to Article II, Section 17 of the Philippine Constitution, the State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation and development. It is the policy of the State to promote excellence in sports by looking after the welfare of national athletes and coaches representing our country, through benefits and incentives not only for those who win in international sports competitions and bring honor and recognition to the Philippines, but also for those who represent the country and uphold its pride on the global stage. Last year, the Philippines garnered two gold medals and two bronze medals in the 2024 Paris Olympics and for the first time in 52 years in the ASEAN Championship, the Philippine Men's National Football Team defeated Thailand. It was also last year when we had our first win in 60 years against a European team when Gilas Pilipinas defeated Latvia.1 1 https://www.amanetwork.com/news/sports/content/931370/yearender-golden-moments-for-philippine- sports-in-2024/story/

It is notable that 2024 was a historical year for our country in Sports. Despite our country's continued success in sports, several problems are still evident such as lack of funding which in effect make Athletes rely on private sponsorship that supports sports programs. On August 9, 2024 a video circulated in various social media platform on the lack of Olympic uniforms for Philippine Olympic Golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan. In a video, Dottie Ardina was seen attaching the Philippine flag to her shirt using double-sided tape as an adhesive. Additionally, the last increase in athletes basic allowances was in 2018, and with the rising cost of living, existing rates fall short of supporting their needs. This bill therefore proposes to increase basic allowances to reflect current economic conditions and ensure that athletes are fairly and sufficiently supported in their pursuit of greatness. The increase the government's support for Filipino athletes is imperative. The purpose of this bill is to motivate and provide benefits to young athletes, such financial incentives and assistance in their development. Towards this end, the bill aspires to increase cash incentives which can help our national athletes focus on their respective sports by setting them free from the worry of providing for their day-to-day necessities. Our national athletes not only bring pride and honor to our country but also boost our country's morale. It is for this purpose that the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. RAFFY T. TULFO 2 https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/10/dottie-ardina-voices-out-frustration-over-lack-of-uniforms

THE TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIP REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) RECEIVED First Regular Session ) m TIME: 4:79 pm BY: _ SS EN 915 BILLS & INDEX S. No. Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT FURTHER EXPANDING THE INCENTIVES AND ALLOWANCES GRANTED TO NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10699, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "NATIONAL ATHLETES AND COACHES BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES ACT" Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Congress assembled:

Section 1. A new Section 5 is hereby inserted after Section 4 of Republic Act No.

10699, otherwise known as the "National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives 3 Act" and the subsequent sections shall be renumbered accordingly: "SEC. 5. BASIC AND MEAL ALLOWANCES FOR NATIONAL ATHLETES. - THE PSC SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL QUALIFIED NATIONAL ATHLETES ARE UNIFORMLY GRANTED BASIC AND MEAL ALLOWANCES, WHICH SHALL BE CHARGED AGAINST THE NATIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT FUND (NSDF). FOR THIS PURPOSE, REGULAR NATIONAL ATHLETES SHALL RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING MONTHLY BASIC ALLOWANCES, BASED ON THEIR CLASSIFICATION: # (a) CLASS A - THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P35,000.00); (b)CLASS B - THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND PESOS (P32,000.00); (c) CLASS C - (i) SILVER MEDALIST - TWENTY-NINE THOUSAND PESOS (P29,000.00);

(ii) BRONZE MEDALIST - TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND PESOS (P26,000.00); (d)TEAM SPORTS - TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND PESOS (P22,000.00); (e) TRAINING POOL - (i) NON-MEDALIST / DOWNGRADED - SEVENTEEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED PESOS (P17,600.00); (ii) NEW ENTRIES / ALTERNATES / SPARRING PARTNERS - FIFTEEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED PESOS (P15,200.00). IN ADDITION, ATHLETES WHO GARNERED MEDALS DURING INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE YEAR SHALL BE ALLOWED THE FOLLOWING ALLOWANCE SCHEME UNDER THE PRIORITY ATHLETES PROGRAM OF THE COMMISSION WITH THE FOLLOWING RATES: (a) PLATINUM - FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P55,000.00); (b) PRIORITY A - FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND PESOS (P53,000.00); (c) PRIORITY B - FORTY-SIX THOUSAND PESOS (P46,000.00); (d) PRIORITY C - FORTY-THREE THOUSAND PESOS (P43,000.00). THIS ALLOWANCE SCHEME SHALL APPLY TO ATHLETES WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND DULY ENDORSED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE NATIONAL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS (NSAS TO BE PART OF THE SAID PROGRAM. PROVIDED, THAT ALL ALLOWANCES HEREIN STATED MAY BE ADJUSTED BY THE PSC, UPON CONSULTATION WITH THE PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION (PAGCOR), BASED ON STUDIES, CONSULTATIONS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS WITH RELEVANT AGENCIES, TO REFLECT THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE ATHLETES, NOT LATER THAN THREE (3) YEARS AFTER THE

EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT AND EVERY THREE (3) YEARS THEREAFTER. THE ALLOWANCE SCHEME PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION SHALL LIKEWISE APPLY TO NATIONAL COACHES, AS DEFINED IN THIS ACT. PROVIDED, THAT THE ALLOWANCE CLASSIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR COACHES SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE PSC, IN COORDINATION WITH THE RESPECTIVE NSAS."

Sec. 2. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10699, otherwise known as the "National

9 Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act" is hereby amended as follows: "Sec. [8] 9. 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 competition, 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: XXX v. [Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00)] SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P600,000.00) 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; vi. [Three hundred thousand peses (P300,000.00)] FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P400,000.00) for SEA Games; and vii. [One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00)] TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000) for ASEAN Para Games.

• . XXX 2. For Silver Medalists: XXX v. [Fwo hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00)] THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P350,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competition 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; vi. [One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00)] TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00) for SEA Games; and vii. [Seventy five thousand pesos (P75,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P125,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games. XXX 3. For Bronze Medalists: XXX v. [One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P150,000.00) 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 competition for World-level and Asian-level games; vi. [Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00)] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00) for SEA Games; and vii. [hirty theusand pesos (P30,000.00)] FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games. XXX"

Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Sports Commission

2 (PSC), in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the 3 Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and other concerned 4 agencies, shall issue the necessary guidelines and regulations for the implementation, 5 disbursement, and periodic adjustment of basic and meal allowances for national athletes 6 and coaches as mandated under this Act.

Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or

8 unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 9 force and effect.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including rules

and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended, and/or modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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