INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- The partylist Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (Forces of the Heroic Athlete) has vowed to, among other things, improve the incentives and benefits for the national athletes.

Lone PBA nominee Mark Sambar said he has already filed two bills ? in tandem with Rep. Manny Pacquiao ? seeking to amend Republic Act 9064 or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Law, and Republic Act 6847 which created the Philippine Sports Commission.

Sambar, who appeared as guest during last Friday's Scoop sa Kamayan, said the PBA would work to include in the Incentives Act the differently abled athletes who have not been covered by the law and thereby don't get rewards for their feats in international tournaments like the Paralympic Games.

``We ran with a promise of ensuring that the legacy of the Filipino athlete is realized and we will do just that,'' said the 28-year-old Sambar, who studied and earned his medical degree in Beijing, China,.

``How can we do it? By collectively aiming 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.

He also promised to push for a 20 percent discount for athletes and coaches from all establishments including transportation, hotels, restaurants, recreation centers and even in the purchase of medicine and equipment.

Health insurance for the athletes and their dependents, and retirement benefit scheme are also included in the bill.

Sambar also said they wanted to make a clear-cut rule on the PSC's share of the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Postal Service.

Based on the PSC's interpretation, the Pagcor remits five percent of its gross monthly income to the sports agency, which reportedly gets an average of P35 million a month, which goes directly to its National Sports Development Fund.

``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 said.

The amendment will also introduce a fixed term of office for the PSC board, which is being supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the national sports associations.

``To guarantee that there will be no dearth of talents in the national training pool, we made a provision that will institutionalize and guarantee continuity of sports programs such as the LGUs annual Palarong Pambayan (Municipal Games), Palarong Panglunsod (City Games) and Palarong Panlalawigan (Provincial Games),'' he added.