Incentives for top performing athletes
Some people, maybe just for the sake of exercising their vocal chords, are showing negativity on the heavy downpour of cash on the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. They say that the money that the government would be giving to Olympic medalists would be better off spent more on matters relating to Covid control.
In fairness to the government, with all its missteps and those quixotic Qs imposed, had been gallant in its efforts to combat the pandemic. The problem is that some people are just plain hardheaded and indifferent. Had hardheadedness been an Olympic sport, we could have already won several golds since decades ago.
The cash incentives for national athletes had been made into law and the agency tasked to take care of athletes’ welfare are mandate by law to do payouts to medalists.
On April 15, 2001, a bill was approved by Pres. Gloria Arroyo institutionalizing the giving of monetary incentives to national athletes who will medal in the Olympics, quadrennial World Championships, the Asian Games and the SEA Games. National coaches of medalists will receive 50% of the amount.
RA 9064 also known as the “Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” entitles Olympic gold medalists P5 million, P2.5 million for sliver and P1 million for bronze of which funding comes from the net income of PAGCOR.
Pres. Noynoy Aquino on November 13, 2015, approved a repealed RA 9064 which expanded the coverage of incentives given to national athletes and coaches. Unless repealed again, it is now the standard for cash and other non-monetary incentives given to medalists, in this case, the overdue 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
RA 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits Act” gives P10 million to Olympic gold medalists, P5million for silver and P2 million for bronze. Of course, private institutions and individuals can up the cash flow and of late, we all know of who and how much and what they had pledged to Diaz, including Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
Wildly tagged and accused as a conspirator two years ago to oust PRRD by some lawyer/adviser and blindly ridiculed and threatened by equally tunnel-visioned minions, Diaz, though fearful of her life and family, continued to train and the results were golden. The same freaking accuser then became one the first to congratulate her. I’ll bet my severely devalued savings that all those who had spewed venom on Diaz during the infamous matrix are now profuse in their admiration.
Not all of our athletes made good in Tokyo but they had made this corner proud to be Pinoy. Special mention to Margielyn Didal whose positive attitude was infectious, a frame of mind worthy of a gold medal.
May the gods of Olympus show favor on our remaining competitors. Go Philippines! LABAN PILIPINAS!
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