To honor the outstanding achievements of Filipino athletes in the Olympics, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday said lawmakers will be studying the possibility of enhancing and increasing government benefits to medalists in the Olympics, including granting them monthly pension for the pride and honor they have brought the country.
Speaker Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, said he had asked members of the concerned committees to initiate discussions on passing a bill that would institutionalize the grant of more benefits, financial or otherwise, to Filipino Olympic medalists.
“Ang karangalang hatid ni Carlos Yulo, Hidilyn Diaz at ang ating mga Olympians para sa ating bansa at sa sambayanang Pilipino ay hindi natin kailanman masusuklian, pero maaari nating kilalanin ang kanilang tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng benepisyo mula sa pamahalaan,” Speaker Romualdez declared.
“Isa na po dito ang pagbibigay ng lifetime pension sa lahat ng Filipino Olympic gold, silver at bronze medalists na nagdala ng karangalan sa ating bansa. Magsisimula ito sa edad na 40 o sa kanilang pagreretiro mula sa sports,” he added.
Speaker Romualdez said recognition of the achievements of Filipino Olympians can ensure that they will have a bright and secure future, even if they retire from the sports they excelled in.
“Sa pamamagitan ng hakbang na ito, nais nating bigyan ng katiyakan ang kanilang kinabukasan bilang pagkilala sa kanilang mga sakripisyo at tagumpay para sa bansa. The recognition doesn’t stop when they win medals, it will continue for the rest of their lives,” the House leader from Leyte expressed.
Just recently, Filipino gymnast Yulo bagged two golds in the 2024 Paris Olympics, one in floor exercises and one in vault. Speaker Romualdez said this great achievement followed that of Diaz who won the country’s very first gold medal in the history in the Olympics during the last Tokyo Olympics.
Also, Speaker Romualdez said he has directed the appropriate committee to study amendments to Republic Act (RA) No. 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act” and study if the law needs to be updated to reflect the needs of athletes and coaches.
“Nais din nating nating amyendahan ang RA 10699 upang mapabuti at mapataas ang mga benepisyo para sa ating mga pinararangalang atleta at kanilang coaches,” he said.
“Layunin natin hindi lamang magbigay ng pansamantalang gantimpala, kundi isang pangmatagalang suporta na makatutulong sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan,” he added.
In deliberating on these proposals of the Speaker, he said Filipino athletes, including those who won medals in the Olympics and those competing in international events, will be invited as resource persons, including their coaches and support personnel.
“Iimbitahan natin sa House of Representatives para sa konsultasyon ang lahat ng Filipino Olympians, yung galing sa Paris at iba pang nabubuhay na Olympians,” he stated.
“Sa ganitong paraan, mabibigyan natin sila ng karangalan at makukuha natin ang kanilang mga ideya kung paano pa mapapabuti ang sports development sa ating bansa,” he stressed.
Oversight functions of Congress on RA 10699 will also be exercised, the Speaker said.
“Dapat suriin at tiyakin ang tamang implementasyon ng RA 10699, lalo na sa aspeto ng National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), Social Security System (SSS), at National Housing Authority (NHA),” he declared.
“Walang atleta ang dapat magdusa o mapagkaitan ng benepisyo sa ilalim ng batas. Tinitiyak natin na ang kanilang mga karapatan at benepisyo ay makakamtan nang buo at tama,” Speaker Romualdez said.
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