STARTING this August, all national team athletes and coaches will begin receiving the promised ₱5,000 across-the-board allowance increase from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Earlier this month, newly appointed PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio enthusiastically announced the raise to athletes, coaches, and representatives from various national sports associations.
The announcement was made during a general assembly held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where Gregorio emphasized the importance of the increase and the rationale behind providing this well-deserved support to the country’s sports professionals.
“Why? Because we realized that so many athletes still get P10,000 per month, which is lower than minimum wage,” Gregorio said, explaining why it is about time the athletes and coaches get what they deserve.
“Sinigurado ko ‘yun. What is P10 million a month for the welfare of our athletes and coaches? A lot of them still receive P10,000 a month, paano ka naman mabubuhay sa P10,000 a month,” he went on to say.
Nobody Left Behind
With heavy flooding along Taft Avenue affecting the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex—where many athletes and coaches from different sports are staying—the PSC chief visited the facility on Wednesday.
“We distributed food for the athletes who can’t leave the complex due to flooding,” Gregorio said.
Meanwhile, PSC officials also took time to hear the athletes’ stories and their plans to pursue higher education. For Chairman Gregorio, these conversations served as inspiration to begin planning academic sponsorship opportunities for national athletes.
“As long as they share their stories, the PSC is here to listen. Then we will find ways to help make their dreams come true. Here’s to not just celebrating wins but creating winning moments for our athletes,” he said.
Take Accountability
Meanwhile, along with the announcement of the allowance increase, national team members are no longer required to submit a daily time record or a comprehensive activity report.
“In place of these documents, the NSAs are now required to submit the newly adopted monthly training attendance certification,” said PSC acting Executive Director Guillermo Iroy Jr., after issuing the advisory on July 22.
“This certification must be duly signed by the NSA president or secretary general and notarized, and shall serve as the official basis for qualified members of the national training pool to receive their allowance for the particular month,” he explained.
The move seeks to improve efficiency and simplify administrative processes, while still ensuring accountability in the distribution of government support.
