BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved, on second reading after publication, a proposed ordinance known as the ‘Baguio-based athletes and coaches incentives and benefits ordinance of 2016” to update the antiquated sports incentive measure.
The ordinance, authored by Councilors Michael Lee Lawana and Peter Fianza and co-authored by all members of the local legislative body, stated that qualified Baguio-based athletes are individuals who, as an individual basis or as a member of a team, are allowed to participate in any individual or team sports competition in representation of the city by reason of their enrolment in a school in the city, membership in a sports club, organization or discipline located and operating within the city, function or simply by their residency in the city.
On the other hand, the measure defined Baguio-based coaches as those duly accredited coaches by the Philippine Sports Association, Philippine Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Commission or other similar sports bodies, including international or foreign sports bodies, who are registered as such in the roster of coaches of the city and are assigned in handling the training and/or participation of Baguio-based athletes or teams for at least a regional sports competition.
The ordinance stated the final screening of qualified Baguio-based athletes and coaches shall be done by the City Sports Promotion and Development Council.
Further, the accredited and identified Baguio-based athletes and coaches shall be entitled to benefits and privileges such as priority and free use of sports facilities belonging to the city for such period as may be necessary to train or prepare for a competition in accordance with the schedules as may be arranged with the administrator of the facility; free medical and dental consultation and services in city health and dental clinics or units and also in government hospitals and other facilities as may be assigned or coordinated in the preparation for the conduct of sports competitions; appropriate medical assistance for treatment incurred in trainings supervised or arranged in preparation for a competition or in sports competition in accordance with guidelines adopted; uniform allowances and financial assistance for participation in national and international sports competitions as provided and allowed in the budget and in accordance with adopted guidelines and programs and accounting rules and regulations; free parking privileges in available parking spaces or terminals of sports facilities owned by the city while training or preparing for sports competitions; automatic city recognition and commendation for a win or a medal tallied in any national or international sports competition and other benefits as may be provided in sports competitions to be attended.
In addition, the ordinance stated that wins or medal tallies in national sports competitions shall entitle the wining athletes and their coaches to cash incentives such as P10,000 for gold medalists, P5,000 for silver medalists and P3,000 for bronze medalists in national sports competitions while coaches will be entitled to cash incentives amounting to P3,000, 2000 and P1,000, respectively.
For team event winners in national sports competitions, teams with 11-15 members that are gold medalists will be granted P60,000 cash incentives, P45,000 for silver medalists and P30,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will also be entitled to incentives amounting to P20,000, P15,000 and P10,000, respectively.
Teams with 6-10 members that are gold medalists will be receiving cash incentives amounting to P40,000, P30,000 for silver medalists and P20,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will also be receiving P15,000, P10,000 and P7,000 cash incentives, respectively.
Teams composed of 5 members and below which are gold medal winners will receive P20,000, P15,000 for silver medalists and P10,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will be entitled to incentives amounting to P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000, respectively.
Individual medal winners in international sports competitions will be entitled to incentives amounting to P30,000 for gold, P20,000 for silver and P10,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will get incentives of P15,000, P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.
Teams with 11-15 members which are gold medal winners will receive incentives amounting to P100,000, P60,000 for silver medalists and P40,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will be granted incentives equal to P30,000, P25,000 and P20,000, respectively.
Teams with 6-10 members which are gold medal winners are entitled to incentives amounting to P60,000, P40,000 for silver medalists and P25,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will also be entitled to incentives equivalent to P25,000, P20,000 and P15,000, respectively.
Teams with 5 members and below which are gold medalists will be receiving incentives amounting to P40,000, P20,000 for silver medalists and P15,000 for bronze medalists. Coaches will also be receiving incentives equivalent to P20,000, P15,000 and P10, 000, respectively.
The ordinance mandates concerned offices of the city government to adopt simple guidelines and procedures for the immediate release of the cash incentives of athletes and coaches and as much as possible, the system shall consider having all possible requirements already submitted in the accreditation and listing of athletes and coaches so that release of incentives will be ministerial with the certified results of the competition./Dexter A. See
