AN ORDINANCE urging all establishments to follow the Republic Act 10699 or the “national athletes, coaches, trainers benefit and incentives Act of 2001” and give discounts accorded under the law is being pressed at the Baguio City Council.

Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales, the Sangguniang Kabataan president proposed the measure after Baguio athlete Sandi Menchie Abahan, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist for obstacle course race and long-distance runner was denied a 20% discount who was purchasing medicines for her recovery.

“According to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the implementation of the law is minimal because the establishments do not know of its existence,” Orcales said.

Signed on Nov. 13, 2015, the act expanded the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches, which also repealed Republic Act No. 9064, or the “National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” or “Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001.”

Section 4 of the law provides that all national athletes and coaches be granted a “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.”

The same discount is given “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.”

It provides that national athletes and coaches could enjoy “free medical and dental consultations in government hospitals and similar establishments anywhere in the country; Coverage in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through the sponsored program of the PSC.

They are also “Priority in existing livelihood programs being undertaken by various government agencies subject to the guidelines and qualifications by the implementing body; 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, 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.”

The city council also vowed to adopt measures to educate establishments of the rights of elderly and PWDs as well, the latter guided by RA 10754 or An Act Expanding The Benefits And Privileges Of Persons With Disability.