SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago has joined the call to support Filipino athletes. But instead of building a stadium, she wants Filipino world champions to look forward to monthly stipends when they retire.
Santiago said granting a monthly pension to Filipino world champions when they turn 50, or when they have to retire because of injuries will "give more than lip service to the lives that our athletes have dedicated for our nation."
She has filed a bill that will recognize professional athletes, or those who are "paid money and other compensation as a salary or prize for participating in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional sport."
Professional athletes, and the competitions they join, must be recognized by the Games and Amusement Board to qualify for benefits.
For champions in individual events, Santiago proposed a monthly pension of at least P15,000. Members of a champion team could get at least P10,000.
If Santiago's bill is passed, the government will also pay for the hospitalization and medical expenses of champion athletes and will give them death benefits.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will be tasked with helping the GAB set up a special insurance program for athletes.
The GAB will, in turn, shoulder the insurance premiums of champion athletes.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office will also be told to pay for any expenses beyond PhilHealth coverage.
The bill, which already has a counterpart measure at the House of Representatives, will be retroactive if passed. That means past Filipino world champions will be entitled to government benefits.
She said the Philippines has produced numerous champions, including boxers Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, runner Elma Muros-Posadas, bowler Paeng Nepomuceno, and billards player Efren "Bata" Reyes.
"The list is endless but our memories are short," she said. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
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