'Athletes should get same incentives'

SENATE President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday said Republic Act 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, should be amended to equalize the amount of cash gifts given to national athletes who won in international competitions.

The senator said all national athletes should be given the same amount of incentives, whether regular or differently-abled, since they all demonstrated the same level of commitment, hard work and excellence in sports.

Under Republic Act 10699, athletes who won gold, silver and bronze medals in the Olympics will receive cash incentives of P10 million, P5 million and P2 million, respectively.

SEN. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. Contributed Photo

«In contrast, Paraly-mpians who secure first, second or third place on the world stage are entitled to only half of the cash incentives given to their Olympic counterparts,» Estrada said.

The senator filed Senate Bill 1442, which seeks to provide an equal amount of cash incentives to both regular athletes and differently-abled athletes who won medals in international sports competitions.

«Our laws should treat everyone equally, especially if we're striving for the promotion of sports excellence,» Estrada said.

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Estrada proposed to increase the incentives for medalists in Asian Para Games and Asean Para Games.

«In the recently concluded Summer Olympics in Paris, France, our athletes have proven that they can compete with the best athletes in their respective sports,» Estrada said in Filipino.

«It is not farfetched, especially if given the proper training, that our athletes with disabilities competing in international competitions would also bring honor [to our country]. And if this happens, it is just right that we should also bestow honor and provide incentives to these athletes with disabilities who competed in international paralympic games,» he added.