The tragedy underneath the surface of Philippine sports was revealed over two decades ago, when the late great Anthony Villanueva put up his Olympic boxing silver medal for sale so he could buy medicine after suffering a stroke in 1999.
So Athletes Commission vice chair Jessie Lacuna is asking Congress to include all 399 retired Olympians in Republic Act No. 10699, which provides benefits to all national athletes and coaches.
The House committee on youth and sports recently met with several government agencies involved to make sure RA 10699 is implemented and also discussed several proposed amendments.
Among those cited was the provision giving all national athletes and coaches 20-percent discount in establishments related to transportation, hotel and accommodations, restaurants, and medicine, among others.
The feedback from athletes is that the law is not being fully implemented because of “lack of awareness and knowledge of the law.”