'Hidilyn Diaz law' revived at House after Carlos Yulo's Olympic triumph

MANILA, Philippines — As millions in pledges pour in for Carlos Yulo's double-gold victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the House ways and means committee on Monday swiftly passed a bill seeking to exempt his and other athletes' financial rewards from taxes and other fees. 

The still-unnumbered substitute bill amends Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act to grant tax exemptions for all incentives, rewards and other forms of donations to national athletes "who compete or win" in select international sports competitions.

The measure consolidates several House bills, including House Bill 421, which was refiled by committee chairperson Rep. Joey Salceda (Albay, 2nd District) in the 19th Congress. 

An earlier version of the bill dubbed the "Hidilyn Diaz Law" was approved by the lower chamber in the 18th Congress in 2021 but failed to clear the Senate. 

The bill was filed after Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz snagged a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — the first athlete from the Philippines to win gold at the Olympics.

In his sponsorship speech, Salceda pushed for the bill to exempt not just the cash prize handed out to winning athletes but also the donations that go to their training one year before the competition.

“A 12-year-old Carlos Yulo once gave an interview where he said that his dream was to win a gold medal for the Philippines in the Olympics. It took him more than a decade to reach that goal in the grandest manner possible," the lawmaker said.

“What that teaches us is that the prize is never won on the day of the competition itself, but years before," Salceda added.

The proposed law also makes the tax exemption for athletes' cash incentives retroactive to January 1 of this year. 

Prior to approving the provision, Salceda sought the Department of Finance's official position on the matter, quipping: "Please accept the retroactivity. Nakakahiya kay Yulo kung babawasan mo yung ibibigay ni [Manuel V. Pangilinan] and Ramon Ang (It's embarassing to Yulo if you will deduct the rewards from Manuel V. Pangilinan and Ramon Ang)."

A representative from the DOF said that it will accept the provision making the tax