Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act”.

SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. — The State promotes excellence in sports by looking after the welfare of national athletes and coaches competing for the country and by providing benefits and incentives for national athletes and other athletes who win in international sports competitions and bring honor and recognition to the country.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

a. Athletes with disabilities shall refer to persons with disabilities, as defined under Republic Act No. 7277, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”, as amended, who are Filipino citizens, recognized and accredited by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (NPC PHIL), and who have represented the country in international sports competitions;

b. International sports competitions shall refer to international sports competitions under the following categories:

1. Regular major competitions such as the Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Youth Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Park Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games;

2. World-level championships held at least every two (2) years with at least forty-five (45) countries participating by sport;

3. Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating by sport; and

4. Qualifying competitions for World-level games with at least ten (10) countries participating.

Competitions granting prize money shall not be included.

c. National athletes shall refer to athletes including persons with disabilities who are Filipino citizens, members of the national training pool, recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the PSC, including athletes with disabilities (AWD) who are recognized and accredited by the NPC PHIL and the PSC and who have represented the country in international sports competitions; and

d. National coaches shall refer to coaches of national athletes, who are Filipino citizens, members of the national coaches training pool, recognized and accredited by the PSC and the POC, or the PSC and NPC PHIL in the case of AWD coaches who have represented the country as official coaches to national athletes in international sports competitions.

SEC 4. Benefits and Privileges for National Athletes and Coaches. – Any national athlete and coach, as defined herein and who is currently registered as such, shall be entitled to the following:

a. The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments relative to the utilization of transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicine and sports equipment anywhere in the country for the actual and exclusive use or enjoyment of the national athlete and coach;

b. Minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement for the actual and exclusive use and enjoyment of the national athlete and coach;

c. Free medical and dental consultations in government hospitals and similar establishments anywhere in the country;

d. Coverage in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) through the sponsored program of the PSC;

e. A comprehensive social security program to be formulated by the Social Security System within one hundred eighty (180) days from the approval of this Act;

f. Priority in existing livelihood programs being undertaken by various government agencies subject to the guidelines and qualifications by the implementing body;

g. Priority in national housing programs, affordable “pabahay” loans and other housing opportunities subject to the guidelines and qualifications set by the National Housing Authority (NHA) or the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF); and

h. Use of living quarters and training centers set up and maintained by the PSC for the exclusive use of national athletes while preparing and training for international competitions.

Such privately-owned establishments shall enjoy tax deductions equivalent to the discounts extended to the national athletes and coaches under paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof, subject to the rules and regulations to be issued by the Secretary of Finance, as recommended by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, within ninety (90) days upon the effectivity of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to promulgate the rules” and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of aforementioned benefits.

SEC. 5. Scholarship Benefits for National Athletes. – A national athlete who wins in a regular major international sports competition shall be entitled to scholarship benefits in the form of full ^tuition fees from state colleges or universities for a college or university degree. The winning athlete shall likewise be given priority in the availment of state college or university scholarship grants.

Likewise, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall give priority to winning national athletes who seek scholarship grants and study under their programs subject to the CHED and TESDA regulations and policies and qualifications for all applicants.

Private colleges and universities shall likewise be encouraged to adopt a similar program in their institutions for winning national athletes.

SEC. 6. Retirement Benefits for National Athletes and Coaches. – Any national athlete and coach who wins in an international competition or has coached such winning national athlete shall receive a lump sum amount equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of his/her total cash incentives computed from the start of his/her active sports career as a member of the national training pool or national coaches training pool up to the last day of retirement from active competition or training as certified by the PSC. Such lump sum amount shall be released sixty (60) days from the filing of the retirement papers.

SEC. 7. Death Benefits. – Upon the death of any national athlete and coach, the primary beneficiaries shall be entitled to a lump sum benefit of thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) to cover for the funeral services: Provided, That if the athlete and coach has no primary beneficiaries, the secondary beneficiaries shall be entitled to said benefits.

For purposes of this Act, primary beneficiaries shall refer to the legitimate spouse, legitimate or illegitimate children. Secondary beneficiaries shall refer to the parents and, in their absence, to the brothers or sisters of such athlete and coach.

The benefits provided under this section shall be without prejudice to other similar benefits that may be received by the national athlete and coach from other sources.

SEC. 8. Cash Incentives for Athletes. — National athletes and other athletes who are not officially or currently members of the national training pool but who have otherwise represented the country in international sports competitions, who win gold, silver and bronze medals in international sports competitions shall be entitled to cash incentives in the following amounts:

a. Individual Events

1. For Gold Medalists:

i. Ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) and an Olympic Gold Medal of Valor to be issued by the PSC for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games;

ii. Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) and an Olympic Gold Medal of Valor to be issued by the PSC for Youth Olympic Games and Paralympic Games;

iii. Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games;

iv. One million pesos (PI,000,000.00) for Asian Para Games and World-level competitions held at least every two years with at least forty-five (45) countries participating;

v. Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games;

vi. Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) for SEA Games; and

vii. One hundred fifty thousandspesos (P150,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games.

2. For Silver Medalists:

i. Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games;

ii. Two million five hundred thousand pesos (P2,500,000.00) for Youth Olympic Games and Paralympic Games;

iii. One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games;

iv. Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for Asian Para Games and World-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least forty-five (45) countries participating;

v. Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating, and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games;

vi. One hundred fifty thousand pesos (P150,000.00) for SEA Games; and

vii. Seventy-five thousand pesos (P75,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games.

3. For Bronze Medalists:

i. Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) for Summer Olympic and Winter Olympic Games;

ii. One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for Youth Olympic Games and Paralympic Games;

iii. Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00) for Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games;

iv. Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) for Asian Para Games and World-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least forty-five (45) countries participating;

v. One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for Asian Beach Games, and Asian-level competitions held at least every two (2) years with at least twenty-five (25) countries participating and qualifying competitions for World-level and Asian-level games;

vi. Sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) for SEA Games;

and

vii. Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) for ASEAN Para Games.

b. Team Events

For competitions with less than five (5) participants per team, the team shall receive the same cash incentives for individual medal winners as herein provided, to be divided equally among the team members actually present during the competition.

For competitions with five (5) or more participants per team, each team member shall receive twenty-five percent (25%) of the cash incentives for individual medal winners as herein provided.

Provided , That for demonstration and exhibition sports events in the Olympics, the winning athlete shall receive twenty-five percent (25%) of the cash incentives for Olympic medalists as herein provided.

Provided, further, That national athletes and other athletes who surpass Philippine record or ranking in any measurable international sports competition shall be given cash incentives, the amount of which may be determined by the PSC.

Provided, finally , That all cash incentives herein stated may be adjusted by the PSC, upon consultation with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), based on studies, consultations and public hearings with relevant agencies to reflect the economic needs of the athletes, not later than tjrree (3) years after the effectivity of this Act and every three (3) years thereafter.

SEC. 9. Cash Incentives for Coaches. — Coaches of national athletes shall also be entitled to cash incentives if they have personally trained and rendered service to the athletes or teams who win in international competitions at least six (6) months prior to the international competition. Certification to this effect by the individual athlete or team captain for team events shall be in writing, duly attested by their respective national sports associations (NSAs).

The incentives for the coaches shall be equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze medalists. In case of more than one (1) coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among themselves.

SEC. 10. Availment of Benefits and Privileges. – The abovementioned benefits and privileges shall be availed by national athletes and coaches upon presentation of a valid identification card, renewable every year, to be issued by the PSC: Provided, That national athletes and coaches shall not avail of said benefits and privileges under Section 4 of this Act in combination with similar benefits and privileges under other existing laws.

SEC. 11. Penalties. — (a) Any person violating the provisions of Section 4(a) and (b) of this Act shall suffer the following penalties:

1. For the first violation, a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not exceeding one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months but not more than two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court; and

2. For any subsequent violation, a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not exceeding two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

b. Any national athlete or coach who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or a fine of not less than five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

c. If the violator is a corporation, partnership or any juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, owner or any responsible officer.

d. If the violator is an alien or a foreigner, the person shall be deported immediately after service of sentence without further deportation proceedings.

Upon filing of an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, the proper authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the business permit, permit to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted to any business entity that fails to abide by the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Funding. — The amount necessary for the implementation of the cash incentives and retirement benefits under this Act shall be taken from the net cash income of the PAGCOR, to be remitted directly as a special account to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) of the PSC. This is in addition to the regular income share of the PSC pursuant to Republic Act No. 6847.

Provided , That any additional funding requirement necessary to implement the increase of cash incentives and retirement benefits of this Act shall be sourced from the fifty percent (50%) national government share in the gaming revenue of PAGCOR under Presidential Decree No. 1869, as amended.

A separate fund equivalent to not less than sixty percent (60%) of the existing NSDF shall be automatically set aside for the training and preparation of national athletes covered by this Act.

SEC. 13. Transitory Provision. — National athletes who have won and availed of the benefits and privileges -under Section 9 (Benefits, Privileges and Incentives for Past Achievers) of the repealed Republic Act No. 9064, otherwise known as the “National Athletes Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” or “Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001”, are considered to have fully claimed their cash incentives.

National athletes who have not availed of the cash incentives on the abovementioned provision shall claim within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, and thereafter would be construed as not eligible for the claim and have waived their rights.

SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — The PSC, in consultation with the POC, the NPC PHIL, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepED), the CHED, the TESDA, the Department of Finance (DOF), the BIR, the PAGCOR, the PHILHEALTH, among others, and other concerned agencies shall promulgate and issue the IRR within sixty (60) days upon approval of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the PSC to promulgate the rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.

SEC. 15. Monitoring and Reportorial Requirements. – The PSC shall submit a report on the benefits, privileges and incentives granted under this Act to national athletes and coaches, to the DOF, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the PAGCOR, the Senate Committee on Games, Amusement and Sports, and the House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports Development for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of this Act. The submission shall not he later than three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act and every three (3) years thereafter.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 9064, otherwise known as the “National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” or “Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001”, is hereby repealed. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

 

(SGD.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. Speaker of the House of Representative

(SGD.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2898 and House Bill No. 5912 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on September 21, 2015.

(SGD.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Representative

(SGD.) OSCAR G. YABES Secretary of the Senate

Approved: NOV 13 2015

(SGD.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines