BAGUIO CITY – The city council here urged business establishments, hotels, and the transport sector to grant the 20-percent discount to national athletes and coaches.
In a resolution approved during Monday’s regular session, the councilors enjoined “all business establishments covered by Republic Act No. 10699… (national athletes and coaches benefits and incentives act of 2015) to strictly observe and comply with the granting of a 20-percent discount and all other benefits to all national athletes and coaches…,”.
“All government agencies concerned to issue the necessary circulars or directives to ensure compliance,” the resolution read.
The resolution covers all national athletes and coaches who are currently recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (NPC Phil).
The same discount can be availed on “admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusement.”
The discount will be given once the athlete presents his or her Philippine National Sports Team Identification Card (PNSTM) and Booklet issued by the chairman of the PSC to any establishment covered by RA 10699.
The law also provides “that national government agencies (NGAs) such as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and all its attached agencies, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Tourism (DOT) shall within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of the IRR issue the necessary circulars or directives for transportation privileges and accommodation discounts respectively to national athletes and coaches…,”.
However, the resolution noted that said agencies need yet to provide the necessary circular or directive to affect the discount.
In granting of the “20-percent discount to sales and services bought and availed by national athletes and coaches is the materialization of the government’s commitment in promoting excellence in sports by looking after their welfare and by providing them reasonable benefits and privileges who brought pride and glory to our country by winning in various international premier sporting events…,”.
By granting the discount, the law seeks to improve “their welfare and motivating them more to excel in the field of sports in the name of the city and our country…,”.(PNA)
