Philippine Sports Commission chairperson Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala wants the creation of a law that will provide a monthly pension for national athletes.
During a television interview last Friday, the 59-year-old sports official said he wants to expand the benefits the athletes are receiving.
“One of our plans for our athletes is to extend the benefits the athletes are giving. One of my personal suggestions to the PSC board is to set up an athletes pension plan in the near future,” Eala, a former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner, said.
“We are already talking with our partners to start making a bill to make a pension plan for the athletes.”
An athlete’s pension plan was brought up by House Speaker Martin Romualdez last August in light of the death of Asia’s sprint queen Lydia de Vega.
As of now, national athletes continue to get monthly allowances that range from P10,200 to P45,000.