PH athletes, coaches finally get discount privilege but allowance cut looms

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They can finally get discounts.
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Filipino athletes and coaches will finally get to enjoy the discount benefits they should deserve as BIR issued Revenue Regulation 13-2020 as PSC announced on Friday night.

The said BIR regulation paved the way for the full implementation of the discount clause stated in Republic Act 10699, formally known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.

“We have been looking forward to this and we are thankful that our athletes and coaches will finally enjoy the privilege they deserve,” PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said in a statement.

The said discounts will be honored for food, medicine, recreation centers, hotels, and lodging establishments and sports equipment purchases.

In line with this, the PSC also announced that it has already issued ID's to the national athletes with booklets similar to those used by senior citizens for their own discounts to follow.

But with the good news comes a not so good one as the same group of sportsmen is set to face a cut in their allowances as well.

"With much regret and after several discussions within the board and senior officers of the agency, a 50% reduction on allowances of athletes and coaches shall be effected starting June 1," the PSC said in a statement.

The resolution was made to keep the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) afloat for the rest of the year as much of the cash in it are already utilized for the COVID-19 fight.

“This is a hard decision to make, but one that needed to be done so we can continue caring for our athletes longer,” Ramirez continued.

He, however, assured that the athletes and the coaches will get full allowance anew "once the NSDF reaches a comfortable level again."

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno