QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10699)
RA 10699 is the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.” It declares the State policy of promoting excellence in sports by providing benefits and incentives to national athletes and coaches representing the country in international competitions, and by looking after their welfare.
National athletes are Filipino citizens who are members of the national training pool and are recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). Athletes with disabilities (AWD) must also be recognized and accredited by the NPC PHIL and the PSC, and must have represented the country in international sports competitions.
International sports competitions include specified regular major competitions (e.g., Olympics, Asian Games, SEA Games, Paralympics, Youth Olympic Games), world-level and Asian-level championships meeting country-participation and frequency thresholds, and qualifying competitions for world-level games. Competitions granting prize money are not included.
Examples include: (1) 20% discount on transportation, hotels/lodging, restaurants, recreation centers, and purchase of medicine and sports equipment; (2) 20% minimum discount on admission fees to certain leisure/culture venues; (3) free medical and dental consultations in government hospitals/similar establishments; (4) coverage through NHIP/PHILHEALTH via PSC-sponsored program; (5) comprehensive social security program by SSS; plus priorities in livelihood and housing programs, and use of PSC living quarters/training centers.
Privately-owned establishments that extend the required discounts are entitled to tax deductions equivalent to the discounts granted, subject to rules of the Secretary of Finance recommended by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Failure of the BIR to promulgate rules does not prevent implementation of the benefits.
A national athlete who wins in a regular major international sports competition is entitled to scholarship benefits in the form of full tuition fees from state colleges or universities for a college/university degree, and is given priority in the availment of state scholarship grants.
CHED and TESDA must give priority to winning national athletes seeking scholarship grants and studying under their programs, subject to CHED/TESDA regulations, policies, and qualifications for applicants.
They receive a lump sum equivalent to 25% of their total cash incentives computed from the start of their active sports career in the national training pool or national coaches training pool up to the last day of retirement from active competition or training, as certified by the PSC.
They shall be released 60 days from the filing of the retirement papers.
Upon death of any national athlete and coach, primary beneficiaries receive a lump sum funeral benefit of PHP 30,000; if there are no primary beneficiaries, secondary beneficiaries receive it. Primary beneficiaries are the legitimate spouse and legitimate/illegitimate children; secondary beneficiaries are parents, and in their absence, brothers or sisters.
Cash incentives are granted for gold, silver, and bronze medalists in international sports competitions with amounts depending on the event and level (e.g., Olympics/Paralympics, Asian Games, SEA Games, etc.). These apply not only to national athletes in the national training pool but also to other athletes who have represented the country in international sports competitions even if they are not currently members of the national training pool.
If the team has less than five participants, the team receives the same cash incentives as individual medal winners to be divided equally among team members actually present. If the team has five or more participants, each team member receives 25% of the cash incentives for individual medal winners as provided.
Coaches of national athletes are entitled to cash incentives if they personally trained and rendered service to the athletes/teams who win at least six months prior to the international competition. Certification is in writing, attested by the athlete/team captain for team events and duly attested by respective NSAs.
For first violation: fine of PHP 50,000 to 100,000 or imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years, or both. For subsequent violations: fine of PHP 100,000 to 200,000 or imprisonment of 2 years to 6 years, or both—at the discretion of the court.
National athletes and coaches cannot avail of Section 4 benefits and privileges in combination with similar benefits under other existing laws. Abuse of privileges granted is punishable by imprisonment of at least 6 months or a fine of PHP 5,000 to 50,000, or both.
It is taken from the net cash income of PAGCOR, remitted directly as a special account to the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), in addition to PSC’s regular income share under RA 6847. Any additional requirements may come from the 50% national government share in PAGCOR gaming revenue. Also, a separate fund equivalent to not less than 60% of existing NSDF is set aside for training and preparation of national athletes covered by the Act.
National athletes who previously won and availed benefits under Section 9 of the repealed RA 9064 are considered to have fully claimed their cash incentives. Those who did not avail must claim within three years from RA 10699’s effectivity; thereafter, they are construed as not eligible and have waived their rights.
The PSC must promulgate IRR within 60 days upon approval of the Act (and failure to do so does not prevent implementation upon effectivity). RA 10699 takes effect 15 days after publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.