Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10699)
The short title of Republic Act No. 10699 is the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
The State promotes excellence in sports by looking after the welfare of national athletes and coaches competing for the country and by providing benefits and incentives for those who win in international sports competitions and bring honor to the country.
National athletes include those Filipino citizens, members of the national training pool, recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), including athletes with disabilities recognized by the NPC PHIL and PSC who have represented the country in international sports competitions.
National coaches are Filipino citizens, members of the national coaches training pool, recognized and accredited by the PSC and POC, or PSC and NPC PHIL for athletes with disabilities, and have represented the country as official coaches in international sports competitions.
They are entitled to a 20% discount on transportation, lodging, restaurants, recreation centers, medicine, and sports equipment; 20% discount on admission fees to theaters, cinemas, and similar places; free medical and dental consultations in government hospitals; PHILHEALTH coverage; social security benefits; priority in livelihood and housing programs; and use of living quarters and training centers maintained by the PSC.
They are entitled to full tuition scholarships in state colleges or universities for a college or university degree and priority in scholarship programs of CHED and TESDA. Private institutions are encouraged to adopt similar programs for such athletes.
A lump sum amount equivalent to 25% of their total cash incentives from the start of their active sports career to retirement, certified by the PSC, is granted and released within 60 days from filing retirement papers.
Gold medalists in the Summer Olympic Games receive ten million pesos (₱10,000,000) and an Olympic Gold Medal of Valor issued by the PSC.
First violation: fine of ₱50,000 to ₱100,000 or imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years or both. Subsequent violations: fine of ₱100,000 to ₱200,000 or imprisonment from 2 to 6 years or both. If violator is a corporation, officers may be held liable; aliens may be deported after serving sentence.
Coaches who have trained winning athletes for at least six months receive 50% of the cash incentives awarded to their athletes, to be divided among multiple coaches if applicable.
Competitions classified as regular major competitions (e.g., Olympic Games, Asian Games, SEA Games), world-level championships with at least 45 countries, Asian-level competitions with at least 25 countries, and qualifying events with at least 10 countries. Competitions granting prize money are excluded.
Any national athlete or coach who abuses the privileges granted may face imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine from ₱5,000 to ₱50,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.
They must present a valid identification card issued by the PSC, renewable annually. Benefits under Section 4 cannot be combined with similar benefits from other laws.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in consultation with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), National Paralympic Committee (NPC PHIL), Department of Health (DOH), DepEd, CHED, TESDA, Department of Finance (DOF), BIR, PAGCOR, PHILHEALTH, and other concerned agencies.
Funds come from the net cash income of PAGCOR, remitted to the National Sports Development Fund of the PSC, in addition to regular income shares under RA 6847. Additional funding, if needed, comes from 50% of the national government share of PAGCOR gaming revenue.