Filipino athletes who bring home medals and international honors could soon get to keep more of the rewards they earn.
A proposal in the House of Representatives seeks to exempt qualified incentives, rewards, bonuses and other financial benefits received by national athletes and their coaches from national and local taxes.
But while the proposal could mean bigger take-home rewards for Filipino sports heroes, the measure still has to overcome the legislative process before it becomes law.
A Push to Let Champions Keep Their Full Rewards
House Bill No. 7977, introduced by Rep. Eric Yap, seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
Under the proposal, incentives, rewards, bonuses and other forms of financial compensation received by national athletes who compete or win in qualified international sports competitions — including those received by their coaches — would be exempt from national and local taxes, fees and charges.
The bill also covers certain donations, gifts, endowments and contributions from public or private sources.
The measure argues that Filipino athletes who represent the country on the global stage should receive the full benefit of the rewards intended to recognize their achievements.
Without an explicit tax exemption, portions of financial incentives may be reduced by applicable taxes, according to the bill’s explanatory note.
Donations for Training Could Also Get Tax Perks
The proposed law does not focus only on rewards received after a victory.
It also seeks to provide tax benefits for qualified donations, gifts, endowments and contributions that are directly and exclusively used for an athlete’s training and competition-related expenses.
Under the measure, these qualified contributions could be treated as allowable deductions from the donor’s gross income, subject to the rules under the country’s tax laws.
The proposal sets specific conditions and time periods for these privileges, including support given before an international competition and qualified incentives received after it.
If approved, the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue would be tasked with issuing implementing rules.
Filipino Athletes Already Receive Major Incentives
The proposed tax exemption would build on the benefits already provided under Republic Act No. 10699.
The law grants cash incentives to Filipino athletes who win medals in major international competitions, including the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.
Under the existing law, an individual Olympic gold medalist is entitled to a government cash incentive of P10 million.
The law also provides incentives for medalists in other major international competitions, while coaches who personally trained winning athletes may also qualify for incentives equivalent to a portion of the athlete’s reward.
Beyond cash incentives, qualified national athletes and coaches may also receive benefits such as discounts on transportation, accommodation, restaurants, medicine and sports equipment, as well as access to government medical and dental consultations and other welfare programs.
Winning athletes may also qualify for scholarship and retirement benefits under the law.
Why the Tax Issue Matters
For lawmakers backing the proposal, the issue goes beyond prize money.
Filipino athletes often spend years training, competing and making personal sacrifices before reaching the international stage.
A tax exemption, supporters argue, would ensure that government and private-sector rewards reach athletes and coaches in full.
The proposal also comes as the government continues to expand financial recognition for athletes.
In May 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that medalists in the Palarong Pambansa would receive incentives from the Philippine Sports Commission for the first time, covering both regular sports and para games.
The move highlighted the growing push to provide stronger financial recognition for Filipino athletes at different levels of competition.
But the Bill Still Faces a Major Hurdle
For now, however, Filipino athletes should not assume that all rewards are automatically tax-free.
House Bill No. 7977 is a proposed measure and must still complete the required legislative process and be enacted into law before its provisions can take effect.
That means the proposal’s promise of allowing qualified athletes and coaches to keep more — or potentially all — of their eligible rewards remains dependent on congressional action.
The bigger question now is whether lawmakers will move quickly enough to turn the proposal into law.
For Filipino athletes chasing medals on the world stage, the battle may no longer be limited to the arena.
The next hurdle could be inside Congress.
And if the bill finally passes, the country’s next generation of champions may discover that winning for the Philippines could soon mean taking home more of the reward they worked for.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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