A PARTY-LIST lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to grant monthly pension and other benefits and incentives to medal winning Filipino athletes.
Under House Bill 1480 filed by Aangat Tayo Party-list Representative Harlin Neil Abayon, a winning Filipino Olympian shall have the privilege of being “tax-free for life” in addition to the tax exemption from income tax of prizes, winnings and awards granted to athletes in local and international sports tournaments and competitions.
"This legislation will accord two significant privileges to winning Filipino Olympian: The privilege of being accorded as tax-free citizen for life; and the privilege of being known as the Pambansang Pensionado," Abayon said.
Under the measure, a winning Filipino Olympian shall receive a monthly pension of P10,000 to commence five years after winning the Olympics and shall continue for 20 years or until the age of 60 at the option of the winning athlete.
Abayon said winning Filipino Olympian covers both individual athlete and those who competed in team events played and represented the country and merited either gold, silver, or bronze distinction in a competition sports.
The lawmaker said previous Olympians who prior to the enactment of the proposed Act had won in the Olympics, shall also be entitled to the benefits and privileges provided under the measure.
The Philippines had won two silvers and seven bronzes in the past Olympics.
In this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 13 Filipino athletes will compete in eight sports disciplines, including table tennis, swimming, golf, athletics, boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, and judo. (Sunnex)