AIBA World 2019 women’s boxing champion Nesthy Alcayde Petecio of Barangay Tuban, Sawata, Davao del Sur and women’s marathon Rio 2016 Olympian Mary Joy Tabal of Cebu City were elated to receive their discount IDs and booklets for the availment of the 20 percent discount to national athletes and coaches in view of the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act (Republic Act 10699)” from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Petecio and Tabal, who won a gold medal and a silver, respectively, in the 30th Philippines Southeast (SEA) Games in 2019, took to their social media accounts to thank the PSC for sending them the package amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Petecio, whose amateur boxing career started in Davao City, got the PSC package on Saturday, September 5. She posted on Facebook, “Thank you PSC!!! Unexpected delivery!! May 20% discount na ako neto...”
Tabal, for her part, got her privilege ID and booklet on September 1. On her Facebook, she wrote, “National Athlete Privilege. Thank you, PSC. #iAmSportsPositive.”
In a Facebook Messenger interview, Tabal said the discount is a great help since supplements are expensive.
“It’s a great gesture from the government and the sectors that would acknowledge our privilege. This just means that we athletes are cared for and not forgotten. We felt our efforts, blood and sweat that we poured into our activities and training are not wasted. By this, it would remind us to continue to train hard despite our current situation. I look forward to a more supportive government so that the young generation will value the importance of healthy lifestyle and competitive community,” she added.
Petecio, for her part, said, “Sobrang thankful ko Maam kay nag-abot na akong PSC ID. Dako jud kaayo sya tabang sa panahon karon Mam ilabina kay gibawasan amoa allowance (I’m thankful my PSC ID has arrived. It really is a great help in this trying time considering that our allowance was also reduced).”
Over 1,000 national athletes and coaches can avail of the special discount privilege. PSC already sent out two of the three batches of IDs and booklets to different cities and provinces where the national athletes are currently.
PSC Assistance and Coordination Division chief Manuel Bitog, in a press statement, furnished to this writer Sunday, September 6, said: “We are doing our best to deliver everything within this month even though there are lockdowns due to the pandemic and the limited workforce. We are doing our best to comply with it as much as possible this third week of September we should have sent the last batch.”
Under Republic Act 10699, privileged athletes and coaches shall avail of a 20 percent discount on transportation, hotels and restaurants, medicine purchases and leisure activities anywhere in the country.