Nat’l athletes to get P15,000, more benefits

The Philippine Sports Commission yesterday announced a new scheme that would benefit only the few remaining athletes and coaches who make the cut in the national pool.

Chairman Butch Ramirez said the PSC would soon implement a plan to cut the number of athletes and coaches under the government payroll and, correspondingly, increase the benefits for those retained.

From more than a thousand, the number of athletes will go down to around 600. But effective Sunday, what they used to receive from the PSC will almost be doubled.

Non-medalists for two consecutive stagings of the SEA Games will automatically be dropped from the pool, and those who remain will start receiving P15,000 a month in allowances.

“The amount includes their meal allowances of P350 a day if they are billeted with us, and P100 a day if they stay with their families. They will now have more in their pockets,” said Ramirez.

The heads of 44 different NSAs (national sports associations) met with Ramirez yesterday afternoon, and they all welcomed the development. The PSC board met with the athletes and coaches later on.

 “It’s for implementation starting on June 1,” said Ramirez.

The NSAs will also be asked to name their candidates to the training pool. These are the potential medalists who will receive P6,000 a month plus free meals.

Junior athletes aged 16 and below will be granted training for four years with no monthly allowances – except when they compete abroad.

“They have four years to make it to the elite level. Otherwise, they will be dropped from the list and we look for new ones,” said PSC commissioner Ritchie Garcia, who’s in charge of NSA affairs.

Also present in the meeting with the NSA representatives were commissioner Jose Mundo, Ambrosio de Luna and Eric Loretizo, executive director Fr. Vic Uy and his deputy Willy Roldan.

Head coaches will start receiving P20,000 a month, assistant coaches P15,000 and coaches of the junior athletes P10,000.

“But they have to be certified coaches. We will cut down on the practice that just because you are an athlete means you can coach. They need to submit their credentials,” said Garcia.

Regarding the billeting, only non-residents of Metro Manila will be given a space, including non-residents of Baguio City who are training and staying at Teachers Camp.

The athletes staying at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Philsports will soon move to the Brent complex where the dormitories will be run like a hotel.

“There will be four athletes in a room. And these rooms will be kept and maintained like a hotel room. There will be house-keeping to attend to their rooms, change their beddings daily and more,” Garcia said.

“But it’s still their responsibility to keep their rooms clean because they will be monitored, too,” said Garcia.