When I Was Young

This is one legislation that will at least 'compensate' the athlete after the strength is gone… I saw this on the news in Singapore back then, and it is also one reason why not many individuals are keen to go into the sports arena… no support when the limelight is over… is it still the same old problem that athletes are facing, or is this already taken care of?

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06/27/2009 | 03:40 PM

MANILA, Philippines — a measure granting 20-percent discounts to athletes with disabilities who had represented the country in international events moved closer to becoming a law after it hurdled the committee level.

The House Committee on Appropriation approved the bill that also grants lifetime monthly pensions for the athletes once they reach age 55.

The measure gives such athletes a 20-percent discount from all establishments like transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreational centers and for the purchase of medicines and sports equipment anywhere in the country.

Also, the bill covers athletes with disabilities (AWD) who are recognized and accredited by the National Paralympic Committee Philippines (NPC Phil) and the PSC, including their trainers and coaches, and those who have represented the country in international competitions should be entitled to the benefits.

Under the bill, athletes with disabilities who reach age 55 will receive a lifetime monthly pension of at least P20,000 for individual winners and P15,000 for each team member in the case of team events.

Such athletes and their coaches and trainers would be covered by the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) through the sponsored program of the PSC.

An article on the House of Representatives' website said committee chairman Rep. Junie Cua (Quirino) has asked the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to submit to the committee an updated list of all the athletes with disabilities and their coaches and trainers since they would be the beneficiaries of this bill.

The bill imposes a fine of up to P200,000 and imprisonment of six months to two years to violators.

Any national athlete, coach or trainer who abuses the privileges given under this act would be punished with six months' imprisonment and a fine ranging from P5,000 to P50,000.

Authors of the bill include Reps. Jose Carlos Lacson (Negros Occidental) and Monico Puentevella (Bacolod City). - GMANews.TV

From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.