Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday (Aug. 13) has renewed his call for the passage of proposed measures that will provide equal cash incentives for athletes with and without disabilities.
“Sa mata ng batas, ang lahat ay pantay-pantay. Our laws should treat everyone equally especially if we’re striving for the promotion of sports excellence,” he stated.
The senator made the call following the end of the Summer Olympics held in Paris, France.
During the Olympics, Estrada said “pinatunayan ng mga nagsilahok nating mga atleta na kaya nilang makipagsabayan sa mga pinakamagagaling na mga manlalaro sa larangan na kanilang kinabibilangan.”
“Hindi malayo, lalo na kung mabibigyan ng tamang kasanayan, na magbigay din ng karangalan ang mga atletang may kapansanan na lumalahok sa international competitions,” Estrada said.
“At kung mangyayari ito, karapat-dapat lamang na suklian natin ng kaukulang pagpupugay at pagbibigay ng insentibo ang mga atletang may kapansanan na lumahok sa mga international paralympic games,” he added.
The senator explained Senate Bill No. 1442 seeks amendments on Republic Act (RA) No 10699, also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
He said the bill proposed to grant P2 million to gold medalists in the Asian Para Games and increased the current P150,000 incentive to P300,000 for those who will bag gold medals in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games.
It also sought doubling the cash incentives for silver and bronze medalists in the Asian Para Games and ASEAN Para Games.