Janelle Mae Frayna, the first and only Filipina Woman Grandmaster, raised awareness about the discounts that national athletes are entitled to for various goods and services under the law.
The chess player on Tuesday, July 7, shared that athletes like her are entitled to a government-mandated 20% discount on transportation, accommodation, dining, leisure and medical and sports-related services under Republic Act 10699.
The law is also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
“I’ll post this again to raise awareness. Sobrang hirap mag-explain palagi sa mga restaurants. Most are saying na there’s no memo telling them to give discount for athletes,” Frayna wrote on Facebook.
“Some are even looking for the outdated booklets (as far as I remember, for the past three years, wala ng booklets na binibigay si PSC),” she added, referring to the Philippine Sports Commission.
“I insist for the intended discounts not just for myself but also for other athletes’ welfare. If they don’t give the discount, other athletes will also suffer the same,” the three-time Philippine Women’s Chess Champion said.
The law states that national athletes and their coaches are entitled to a 20% discount “from all establishments relative to the utilization of transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicine and sports equipment anywhere in the country.”
It added that they shall also enjoy a minimum of 20% discount in “theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement.”
The law further states that national athletes are entitled to free medical and dental consultations in government hospitals and similar establishments.
Frayna shared her experiences availing of the discount, claiming that “90% of hotel chains are not aware” of the government-mandated privilege.
She also said that she has never availed herself of airline discounts, noting that there is no option “to toggle as national althlete” when booking tickets online.
“The only option para ma-discount is if we go to the airport at doon sa ticketing office mismo ng airline company pupunta… from a practical point of view, mahirap at matagal ang proseso,” Frayna shared.
“Posting this only for awareness, I mean no harm. Para sa mga tropa nating members ng national team, please share this para ‘di na tayo mapagod magpaliwanag,” she said.
Frayna is the country’s first and only Filipina Woman Grandmaster. She took part in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games, where she won two bronze medals.
Meanwhile, the law defines national athletes as Filipino citizens, including persons with disabilities, who are members of the national training pool and are recognized and accredited by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the PSC. It also includes athletes with disabilities (AWD) who are recognized and accredited by the National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines (NPC PHIL) and the PSC, and who have represented the country in international sports competitions.
The NPC PHIL refers to the National Paralympic Committee of the Philippines.