Almost PHP 45 million has been allocated for the cash incentives of 182 national coaches as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) started releasing their checks on Wednesday following the overall championship of Team Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Under the provisions of Republic Act No. 10699 — also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act — national coaches with gold medal finish will receive one hundred and fifty thousand Pesos (PHP 150,000.00); silver medal finish with seventy-five thousand (75,000.00); while bronze medal finish with thirty thousand (30,000.00) in the SEA Games level.
The law further states that “the incentives for the coaches shall be equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of the cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze medalists. In case of more than one (1) coach, the cash incentives shall be divided among themselves.”
The computation of cash incentives is based on the submission of certification requirements and profiles provided by the national sports associations concerned and the medalist-athlete.
“A coach can only receive his/her incentives upon submission of required certifications and documents,” said PSC-NSA Affairs Office Head Annie Ruiz.
National coaches from arnis, athletics, beach handball, billiards, bowling, boxing, cycling, dancesports, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, modern pentathlon, muay, pencak silat, rowing, sailing, sambo, sepak takraw, soft tennis, soft tennis, softball, squash, taekwondo, tennis, weightlifting, windsurfing, and wrestling were the first batch to get their incentives.
The next batch of coaches scheduled to receive their incentives are from archery, baseball, canoe, fencing, judo, lawn bowls, obstacle course, swimming, traditional boat race, and volleyball.
Funding for these incentives was sourced from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) remitted by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), as provided for in RA 10699.