Disabled athletes to get discounts

MANILA, Philippines - A committee of the House of Representatives has approved a bill granting benefits and incentives, by way of a 20 percent discount, to athletes with disabilities, including their coaches and trainers.

Rep. Junie Cua, chairman of the House appropriations committee, said disabled athletes would be given discounts from all establishments like transportation services, hotels, restaurants and recreational centers.

The same goes with their purchase of medicines and sports equipment nationwide.

Among those covered are all athletes with disabilities, recognized and accredited by the National Paralympic Committee Philippines and the PSC, including their trainers and coaches, and those who have represented the country in international competitions.

The bill further provides that upon reaching the age of 55, AWD would be receiving a lifetime monthly pension of at least P20, 000 for individual winners and P15, 000 for each team member in the case of team events.

AWD and their coaches and trainers would be covered by the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) of Philhealth through the Philippine Sports Commission.

Cua, congressman of the lone district of Quirino, also asked the PSC representative to submit to the committee an updated list of all the athletes with disabilities and their coaches and trainers since they would be the beneficiaries of this bill.

The bill imposes a fine of not more than P200,000 and imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than two years or both to violators.

Likewise, any national athlete, coach or trainer who abuses the privileges given under this act would be punished with six-month imprisonment and a fine ranging from P5,000 to P50,000.

Authors of the bill are Reps. Jose Carlos Lacson of Negros Occidental and Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City.