(NI ESTONG REYES)

IKINASA ni Senador Edgardo Angara ang  isang panukalang batas na magtataas sa cash incentives sa magwawaging atletang Filipino matapos magtala ng aabot sa 400 medalya ang Philippine contingent sa ginanap na 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Angara na dapat tumbasan ng pamahalaan ang nakamit ng atletang Pinoy sa SEA Games na nagbigay ng matinding karangalan sa bansa.

Bahagi ng nakakamanghang nakamit na medalya ang 149 gold medals mula sa pagsusumikap at maraming personal na sakripisyo sa bahagi ng Philippine contingent.

“What our national athletes achieved in the SEA Games is truly historic and should be heralded. It was not only how they performed in their respective sports, but the way they carried themselves during the games that captured the hearts of Filipinos and our ASEAN neighbors alike,” ayon kay Angara.

“With such a stellar performance, it is only fitting that our national athletes and their coaches receive higher incentives from the government as they go on to compete in other international competitions,” dagdag pa ni Angara.

Ayon kay Angara, layunin ng Senate Bill No. 1225 na amendahan ang  Republic Act 10699 o ang National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, na inisponsor ni Angara at naisabatas noong 16th Congress.

Nilusaw ng RA 10699 ang orihinal na Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001 upang mabigyan ng mas malaking benepisyo ang atleta ng bansa, coach at trainers kapag nagwagi sila sa international competitions.