Solons to gift Hidilyn with P5 to P10-M reward, want her winnings to be tax-free

Deputy Speaker Michael Romero on Wednesday bared that lawmakers from the House of Representatives are raising money to provide an additional cash incentive to Filipina weightlifter and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

At a virtual press conference, Romero said Speaker Lord Allan Velasco had initiated the move, pledging P200,000 for Diaz for winning the Philippines' first-ever gold medal at the Olympics.

"Si Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has initiated a move, he started with P200,000 and (he's) passing the hat to every congressmen and congresswomen to mag-ambag or pass the hat para sa additional incentive kay Hidilyn," Romero said.

(Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has initiated a move, he started with P200,000 and he's passing the hat to every congressmen and congresswomen so we could give additional incentive for Hidilyn.)

Romero said the chamber aims to raise P5 to P10 million for Diaz. So far, at least 40 lawmakers have already pledged money and they have so far collected P4 million.

"As we speak nagpapasahan na ng hat ngayon and 'yung mga pledges from congressmen are being done as we speak. I think as we speak, mayroon ng P4 million from various congressmen," he said.

(As we speak, we're already passing the hat and we've collected P4 million.)

"Itong pass the hat namin ngayon is just for Hidilyn Diaz, so siyempre we will siguro pass another hat for the others," Romero said.

(This is just for Hidilyn Diaz. We could also do this to other winning athletes.)

Tax-free?

Meanwhile, Romero said he and Deputy Speaker Bienvenido Abante would file a resolution that will make Diaz's winnings exempted from tax. Romero said Diaz could get P70 to P80 million worth of cash and properties due to her victory.

"Kaming dalawa should pass probably a resolution para naman 'yung winnings ni Hidilyn will be tax-exempted, both sa donor and sa beneficiary should be exempted of any form of tax... She should be our national hero, they only come every 100 years," Romero said.

(The two of us will file a resolution that will push for Hidilyn's winnings to be tax-exempted.)

"I reiterate the call for creating a resolution to make the winnings of Hidilyn tax-exempted," he added.

Diaz conquered the women's 55-kilogram weightlifting competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

She finished with a total score of 224 kg, lifting 97 in the snatch and 127 in the clean and jerk to outduel China's Liao Qiuyun for the gold.

Resolutions were passed in both chambers of Congress honoring Diaz's victory.

Sports ambassador  

Abante, meanwhile, said Diaz should be accorded with all the honors for giving recognition to the country.

"Palagay ko, if we will be needing a sports ambassador eh puwedeng siya na to represent our country in any sports event and to be able to raise the flag of Philippine sports," Abante said.

(Hidilyn Diaz could be our sports ambassador who will represent the country in any sports event.)

Following Diaz's triumph, Romero reiterated his call for the establishment of a Department of Sports so that athletes would be given enough support in their careers.

"I have a pending bill since the 17th Congress for the creation of the Department of Sports and hopefully sana mabibigyang-pansin na talaga ang pagcreate ng Department of Sports," the lawmaker said.

(Hopefully, the creation of the Department of Sports will be given attention following Diaz's win.)

Abante agreed, saying that the Philippines has a lot of talented and skilled athletes who could give pride to the country.

"It's high time for us to prioritize sports in the Philippines. Napakarami nating talent. Mayroon nga tayong Department of Tourism because we would like tourism to be a real part of a growing economy, siguro kung mayroon tayong Department of Sports, talagang puwede na tayong makipagcompete," Abante said.

(We have so many skilled athletes. We have a Department of Tourism because we would like tourism to be a real part of a growing economy, so if we have a Department of Sports, we could really compete.) -MDM, GMA News