BAGUIO CITY – The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, strongly enjoined all business establishments covered by Republic Act (RA) 10699, otherwise known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, to strictly observe and comply with the grant of the mandatory 20 percent discount and other benefits to all national athletes and coaches.
Further, Resolution No. 355, series of 2020, signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong also requested all government agencies to issue the necessary circulars and appropriate directives to ensure the compliance of the establishments to the provisions of the law.
City councilors pointed out that with the issuance of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Regulation No. 13-2020, no more national athletes and coaches will ever be denied and laughed off for invoking their rights as enforced by their benefits and privileges under RA 10699 which provides for the benefits and privileges of national athletes and coaches, including the grant of 20 percent discount from all establishments on the utilization of transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers, and purchase of medicines and sports equipment anywhere in the country.
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Moreover, national athletes and coaches are also entitled to 20 percent discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, nature and amusement.
Earlier, the BIR issued Revenue Regulation No. 13-2020 dated May 27, 2020, that provided for the guidelines in the implementation of tax privileges to privately-owned establishments granting sales discounts and incentives to national athletes and coaches pursuant to the provisions of RA 10699.
To avail of the benefits and privileges as stipulated in the law, national athletes and coaches shall personally present their Philippine National Sports Team identification card and booklets issued by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to any establishment.
According to the council, the city government is committed to ensure that the benefits of national athletes and coaches by virtue of RA 10699 will be received by deserving individuals in improving their welfare and motivating them further to excel in the field of sports in the name of the city and the country.
The council asserted the observance and strict compliance by business establishments as partners of the government through RA 10699 is essential in local sports welfare and development to help raise the bar in the standards for the athletes and coaches.
At present, national government agencies have yet to issue the necessary circulars or directives to ensure the implementation and strict compliance of transport units and private business establishments on the grant of sales and services discounts, hence, no discounts were yet given to national athletes and coaches since the approval of the implementing rules and regulations of the law over two years ago, thus, the need for the immediate implementation of the same to give the athletes and coaches their due benefits in recognition to the honor and pride they have brought to the country.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
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