QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9064)
RA 9064 is known as the “National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001” or the “Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001.” Its policy is to promote excellence in sports by providing welfare and benefits/incentives to national athletes, coaches, and trainers who bring honor to the country through winning in international competitions.
A national athlete must be a Filipino citizen, be a member of the national training pool, be recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and have represented the country in international competitions.
They must be Filipino citizens, members of the national coaches and trainers pool, recognized and accredited by the PSC, and have represented the country as official coaches and trainers to national athletes in international competitions.
International competitions are those sanctioned by the IOC or held every four (4) years including qualifying championships in team sports where only one (1) or two (2) countries may qualify for the Olympics or World Championships. Competitions granting prize money or held in honor of any personality or sponsor are excluded.
They are entitled to (1) 20% discount on transportation services, hotels/lodging, restaurants/recreation centers, and purchase of medicine and sports equipment; (2) minimum 20% discount on admission fees to theaters/cinemas/concert halls/circuses/carnivals/other similar amusement/leisure places; (3) free medical and dental consultations and PHIC medical insurance; (4) a comprehensive social security program to be formulated by SSS within 180 days; (5) priority in existing government livelihood programs (subject to guidelines/qualifications); and (6) priority in national housing programs/pabahay loans and housing opportunities (subject to NHA/HDMF guidelines/qualifications).
Privately owned establishments enjoy tax credits equivalent to the discounts extended to the athletes.
A national athlete who wins in an international competition, or any qualified member of his/her immediate family within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity, is entitled to scholarship benefits in the form of tuition fees in state colleges and universities to complete a college/university degree. The winning athlete also gets priority in state college/university scholarship grants. CHED and TESDA must give priority to winning national athletes seeking scholarship grants under their programs (subject to applicant qualifications).
Retirement benefit is a lump sum equal to 25% of the total cash incentives computed from the start of active sports career as part of the national training pool (or national coaches/trainers pool) up to the last day of retirement from active competition/training as certified by the PSC. It is extended 60 days after filing of retirement papers.
Upon death, primary beneficiaries receive a lump sum of P30,000 for funeral services. Primary beneficiaries are the legitimate spouse and legitimate or illegitimate children. If none exist, secondary beneficiaries (parents; and in their absence, brothers or sisters) receive the benefit.
For individual events: Gold—P5,000,000 (Olympics), P2,500,000 (quadrennial World Championships), P1,000,000 (Asian Games), P100,000 (SEA Games). Silver—P2,500,000 (Olympics), P1,000,000 (quadrennial Worlds), P500,000 (Asian Games), P50,000 (SEA Games). Bronze—P1,000,000 (Olympics), P500,000 (quadrennial Worlds), P100,000 (Asian Games), P10,000 (SEA Games).
If less than five (5) participants per team: the team receives the same cash awards as individual medal winners, to be divided equally among team members actually present. If five (5) or more participants per team: the team receives twice the cash award for individual winners, divided equally among team members actually present.
For demonstration and exhibition sports events in the Olympic Games, winning national athletes receive 50% of the cash awards provided for Olympic medalists.
For SEA Games, monetary incentives are given starting 2001 to winning athletes or teams who have equaled or surpassed the existing game records or the previous placings in non-measurable events.
A national athlete who, prior to enactment, won gold/silver/bronze medals in international competitions except SEA Games is entitled to the benefits in Section 4 and 50% of the cash incentives in Section 8. The incentive is computed as the difference between the cash award under Administrative Order No. 352 and the cash award under RA 9064.
Coaches and trainers get cash awards if they personally trained and rendered service to the athletes/teams at least one (1) year prior to the international competition, with certification by the athlete or team captain in writing. Their incentives equal 50% of the cash awards given to gold/silver/bronze medalists.
A body called the Philippine Coaches Accreditation Council is created to accredit and recognize coaches and trainers. It is composed, among others, of representatives from the PSC, POC, and the academic community, preferably a professor in physical education or sports science.
The PSC may adjust the schedule based on studies, consultations, and public hearings with relevant agencies to reflect economic needs. However, no memorandum/order/issuance shall diminish the prescribed schedule of incentives.
Implementation of cash incentives and retirement benefits is taken from the net cash income of PAGCOR, remitted directly as a special account to the NSDF of the PSC, in addition to PSC’s regular income share under RA 6847. At least 60% of existing NSDF is automatically set aside for training/preparation of national athletes covered by the Act. At least 5% of NSDF is set aside for selecting individual athletes at elementary/high school levels in track and field, swimming, badminton, pingpong, and similar individual sports—administered by DECS.