IN GOD WE TRUST
Sen. Bong Go pushes stronger incentives, sustained support for Filipino Athletes Achievers
As government incentives for Filipino medalists and coaches at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games reach around ₱35 million, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his long-standing push to strengthen rewards and support for athletes who bring honor to the country.
SPORTS
DANNY SIMON
10/7/20262 min read
As government incentives for Filipino medalists and coaches at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games reach around ₱35 million, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his long-standing push to strengthen rewards and support for athletes who bring honor to the country.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairperson Patrick Gregorio said the PSC’s initial computation placed the government incentives for the country’s Asian Games medalists and their coaches at around ₱35 million following Team Philippines’ four-gold, nine-silver and 16-bronze campaign.
Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, said the government must continue reviewing the incentives and benefits received by athletes to ensure that these keep) pace with their needs and the sacrifices required to compete at the highest level.
“Patuloy nating ipaglalaban ang mas malakas na suporta at mas maayos na incentives para sa ating mga atleta. Taon ang ginugugol nila sa training. Malaking sakripisyo rin ito para sa kanilang mga pamilya. Kapag nagbigay sila ng karangalan sa bansa, nararapat lang na ipakita rin ng gobyerno na pinahahalagahan natin ang kanilang pinaghirapan,” Go said.
Under Republic Act No. 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, an individual Asian Games gold medalist is entitled to ₱2 million, while silver and bronze medalists receive ₱1 million and ₱400,000, respectively. Qualified coaches are entitled to incentives equivalent to 50 percent of those received by their medal-winning athletes.
The law also authorizes the PSC, after consultation with PAGCOR and relevant stakeholders, to periodically adjust cash incentives based on the economic needs of athletes.
Go has pushed further reforms to the country’s system of benefits for athletes and coaches.
As chairperson of the Senate sports panel, he sponsored Senate Bill No. 1743, which seeks to amend RA 10699. The measure was approved by the Senate on third reading last March 9 and transmitted to the House of Representatives.
Among the proposed reforms are equal incentives for national para-athletes, tax exemptions for incentives, bonuses and rewards received by national athletes and coaches from public and private sources, and measures encouraging greater private-sector support for Philippine sports.
“Kung pareho silang lumalaban para sa Pilipinas at pareho silang nag-uuwi ng medalya, dapat pareho rin ang pagkilala at suporta natin. Walang dapat maiwan sa ating mga national athletes, kasama ang ating para-athletes,” Go said.
Beyond rewards after competition, Go has also pressed the government to provide adequate funding before athletes enter the playing field.
During Senate deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget, he urged the government to prioritize athlete welfare and the rehabilitation of aging sports facilities, including the Rizal Memorial and PhilSports complexes.
He stressed that incentives after a victory form only one part of the support system athletes need.
“Hindi puwedeng pagkatapos lang manalo saka natin sila aalalahanin. Kailangan nandiyan ang suporta habang nagsisimula pa lang sila, habang nagte-training, habang naghahanda sa international competitions, hanggang sa panahon na matapos na ang kanilang career bilang atleta,” Go said.
Go has also championed long-term athlete development through the National Academy of Sports, established under Republic Act No. 11470, which he authored and co-sponsored.
He has proposed expanding the NAS system through regional campuses, while also pushing for the institutionalization of the Philippine National Games and National Tertiary Games to widen the country’s pipeline of competitive athletes.
For Go, the roughly ₱35 million due to the latest batch of Asian Games medalists and coaches represents recognition already earned through exceptional performance.
Go vowed to continue pushing for policies, funding and incentives that allow Filipino athletes to concentrate on representing the country at their best.
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