Atletang Pinay tatanggap ng dagdag na insentibo

MANILA, Philippines - Nakatakdang tumanggap ng dagdag na insentibo ang mga Filipina athletes sa ilalim ng kalalagda lamang na Magna Carta of Women, ayon kay Senador Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal.

Ang Republic Act (RA) 9710 o ang Magna Carta of Women ay isang landmark legislation na naglalayong mapangalagaan at maisulong ang women rights laban sa diskriminasyon at pang-aabuso.

“The law extends to all aspects of the lives of women and girls, including sports,” sabi ni Madrigal, chair ng Senate Committee on Youth, Women, and Family Relations at isa sa mga masugid na tagapagsulong ng batas.  

“Sports is one of the ve-nues where women can attain excellence, as well as promote physical and social well-being,” dagdag ng senadora.

Sa ilalim ng batas, ang mga men at women winners sa parehong kategorya ay tatanggap ng magkatulad na premyo o para-ngal sa isang torneo o event.

“This way, we would attain gender equity in the sporting world,” ayon pa kay Madrigal.

Ang bilang ng women athletes ay maaari ring tumaas sa mga learning institutions, dahil ang bilang ng women athletes sa mga unibersidad, kolehiyo at eskuwelahan ay nakasalalay sa total women student population. Magkakaroon ng pro-rated number ng women athletes, batay sa porsiyento ng mga kababaihan sa buong student population. “That would also mean an increase in the pool of women athletes where we could draw potential winners,” ani Madrigal.

“With the inclusion of more women sports in the calendar of sporting events, we can now have the female version of Manny Pacquiao in the next few years,” sabi pa ng senadora.

Ang mga local government units, media organizations at pribadong sektor ay makakakuha rin ng material at non-material incentives para sa promosyon at pagsasanay ng women at girl athletes, lalo na sa mga local at international events, tulad ng Palarong Pambansa, Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games at Olympics.

Idinagdag pa ni Madrigal na ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng women athletes ay pangangalagaan din ng estado.

“All women athletes, including trainees, reserves and coaches would get comprehensive health and medical insurance coverage, as well as integrated medical, nutritional and healthcare services.”