A measure exempting the monetary donations and rewards received by Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and other national athletes from any forms of taxes and charges has been filed at the House of Representatives.
House Ways and Means Chair Joey Salceda filed on Wednesday House Bill No. 9891, otherwise known as the proposed Hidilyn Diaz Act, which would exempt rewards for national athletes and coaches who compete or win in international sports competitions from any taxes, fees, and charges.
Salceda noted that the foregone taxes are “just too small” to even both collect and diminish the honor and national pride that the winning athletes have given the country.
“Considering the negligible foregone taxes from such gifts, and considering that the representations these athletes and coaches make in international competitions are officially endorsed by, and made in behalf of, the State, these foregone revenues ultimately redound to the benefit of the State, whose goals and objectives these athletes and coaches promote,” the House tax panel chair added.
On July 26, Diaz clinched the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal since it joined the quadrennial meet in 1924 after the women’s 55-kilogram class of the weightlifting competition in Tokyo.
On top of winning the Philippines’ first Olympic gold, she also set an Olympic record by lifting a total of 224 kg. – 97 kg. in the “snatch” technique and 127 kg. in the “clean and jerk” technique.
“I’m not willing to rain on national pride by insisting that we collect taxes on our national athletes. Neither should the law. So we will change the law,” Salceda said.
Salceda said the Philippines also has a strong chance of achieving more medals, making this the first time in decades that the country is set to win multiple medals at the same Olympic games.
“The honor that Filipino athletes have brought to the country this year is immense and historic. So unprecedented is this honor that it appears our laws were unable to anticipate the outpouring of material solidarity from different sectors of society for our winning athletes and coaches,” Salceda said.
The bill also ensures that the failure to issue revenue regulations providing the implementing mechanisms for the exemption will not preclude the provision from being implemented.
“This guarantees that no administrative omission will prevent the athletes and coaches from availing of the benefit,” Salceda said.
Salceda said his committee would hear the bill without delay, noting that it would be passed before the first half of August.
Source: Philippines News Agency
