Hidilyn Diaz can get P5-M reward sans IRR – Recto

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz would still be getting her P5-million reward from the government despite the absence of implenting rules and regulations for Republic Act 10699.

Signed by former President Benigno Aquino III, RA10699, co-authored by Sen. Ralph Recto, mandates that athletes who bag silver medals in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games are to be given a tax-free cash reward of P5 million pesos, a 100-percent hike from the previous reward of P2.5 million.

Gold medalists will be given P10 million, while bronze medalists get P2 million.

While RA 10699 requires the Philippine Sports Commission and 10 other bodies to draft and issue the law's IRR witjin 60 days after its enactment, "the absence of such IRR does not prevent the grant of incentives to winning athletes," Recto said.

The lawmaker said Congress had anticipated delays in the promulgation of the IRR so it included a provision that states that "the failure of the PSC to promulgate the rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity."

But due to the "cross sectoral" nature of award, it would still be advisable for the agencies to convene and draft the IRR, Recto said.

Under the same law, coaches get to have a reward too that is equivalent to half of the cash incentives for gold, silve, and bronze medalists.

Athletes and coaches who win in international competitions are also qualified to receive scholarship benefits in the form of free tuition in state colleges or universities.

When they retire, they will also receive a lump-sum equivalent to 25 percent of their total cash incentives computed from the start of their active sports career as a member of the national training pool or national coaches training pool. — RSJ, GMA News