FILIPINO Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz

A congressman has asked the House of Representatives to approve two bills that will give benefits to Filipino athletes who win in international sports competitions. 

In a statement, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. Urged his colleagues to pass a measure he filed that seeks to give women equal opportunity in athletic scholarships and prizes, and another bill that seeks to protect Filipino athletes in the national team. 

“These measures, along with the grant of benefits to them and the law establishing the National Academy of Sports show that they will never be forgotten for their contributions to nation-building,” he said. 

A House committee recently approved twin measures that seek to give health care and death benefits to professional sportsmen who have won international awards. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan