Incentives for top performing athletes

SOME people, maybe just for the sake of exercising their vocal cords, are showing negativity on the heavy downpour of cash on the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz. They say the money that the government would be giving to Olympic medalists would be better off spending more on matters relating to coronavirus disease 2019 control.

In fairness to the government, with all its missteps and 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 decades ago.  

The cash incentives for national athletes had been made into law, and the agency tasked to take care of athletes’ welfare is mandated by law to do payouts to medalists.

On April 15, 2001, a bill was approved by President Gloria Arroyo, institutionalizing the giving of monetary incentives to national athletes who will have a medal in the Olympics, quadrennial World Championships, the Asian Games, and the SEA Games. National coaches of medalists will receive 50 percent of the amount.

Republic Act 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 the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

President Noynoy Aquino approved a repealed RA 9064 on Nov. 13, 2015, which expanded the coverage of incentives given to national athletes and coaches. Unless repealed again, it is now the standard for cash and other non-monetary incentives given to medalists, in this case, the overdue 2020 Tokyo Olympics.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 President Rodrigo Duterte.

Wildly tagged and accused as a conspirator two years ago – to oust Duterte 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 accuser then became one the first to congratulate her. I’ll bet that all those who had spewed venom on Diaz during the infamous matrix are now profuse in their admiration.

Nesthy Petecio of women’s boxing bagged a silver medal and will also benefit from the incentives act as well as two other boxers, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam, who are, as of this writing, are assured of bronze medals. Likewise, pledges from private corporations and individuals have poured in for Petecio.

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./PN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here