Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta at SCOOP
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 05 Sep 2010
Saying that the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Partylist in congress will work to ensure the legacy of the Filipino athletes, its lone nominee vowed to work at laws aimed at creating a brighter future for them, their families as well as their coaches are enacted during his term.
Mark Sambar, the lone PBA Partylist representative elected in the Lowers House in the last political exercise, said that he, along with newly-elected Congressman and seven-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao of the lone district of Sarangani who, actually is the party?s benefactor, will work hand-hand to ensure that their advocacy would come to fruition.
?We ran under the promise of ensuring that the legacy of the Filipino athlete is realized and we will do just that,? the young, 28-year-old Sambar, a physician by profession, said during Friday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
?We would like to restore that old feeling enculcated in our athletes? mind in the past that being one is rewarding that being an athletes is an honor, which, unfortunately no longer true in our present-day athletes for reason not of their own making,? Sambar, who studied and earned his medical degree in Beijing, told his audience during the forum, sponsored by PLDT, Mang Inasal and FILA.
?How can we do it? By collectively aim at ensuring a brighter future for our athletes and coaches and their families in order that they can concentrate and focus on their herculean task of carrying the country?s colors in international competitions,? he said.
For a start, Sambar announced that he and Pacquiao have filed two bills that would amend Republic Act 9064, an act granting incentives and benefits to national athletes and coaches, and Republic Act 6847, the law that created the Philippine Sports Commission.
Among the salient features in the bill amending RA 9064 are the inclusion of the differently-abled athletes as beneficiaries, granting 20 percent discount from all establishments relative to the utilization of transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and the purchase of medicines and sports equipment anywhere in the country.
Coverage in the National Health Insurance Program of Philhealth for national athletes and coaches, scholarship grants to spouse and children of athletes who win gold medals in international competitions, retirement benefits, among others will also be provided once the bill is approved.
The most important highlight of the bill amending the PSC law is the present gray area in the computation of the actual share of the PSC from several government agencies such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Postal Service Office, to mention a few, which has been the subject controversies between the commission and those agencies concerned to the determent of athletes? welfare, in particular, and sports, in general.
That particular amendment refers in particular to the five percent Pagcor has to contribute in its annual income but was reduced to 2.5 percent creating a big hole in the PSC?s implementation of its functions.
An amendment will also introduce fixing the term of chairman and its four commissioners , redefine its vision and mission, if necessary, and ensure the proper coordination and linkages with all concerned stakeholders, especially with all LGUs, the Philippine Olympic Committee national sports associations.
To guarantee that there will be no dearth in talents in the national training pool, a provision that will institutionalize and guarantee continuity of sports programs such as the LGUs annual Palarong Pambayan, Palarong Panglunsod and Palarong Panlalawigan shall be inserted.
?The PBA Partylist shares in the national excitement in our quest for our elusive first Olympic gold medal so that with the support of our colleagues in congress, we will make this long-time dream become a reality,? Sambar assured.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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