Council reiterates discounts for athletes, coaches

September 08, 2021 – The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, reiterated Resolution No. 355, series of 2020, which strongly enjoined all business establishments covered by the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10699 to strictly observe and comply with the granting of the mandatory 20 percent discount to all national athletes and coaches.

In a resolution, local legislators reiterated Resolution No. 355, series of 2020 calling for the observance and compliance of establishments to RA 10699, its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Regulation No. 13-2020 to the very least provide the necessary support and accommodation to the various national athletes and coaches where some have successfully represented the country in the recently concluded 2021 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Resolution No. 355, series of 2020, called on all establishments covered by the pertinent provisions of RA 10699 otherwise known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act to grant the mandated 20 percent discount to all national athletes and coaches.

Section 4 of the said law specifically identified the establishments that shall observe the granting of the prescribed 20 percent discount, namely: utilization of transportation services, hotels and other lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicines and sports equipment anywhere in the country for the actual and exclusive use or enjoyment of the national athlete and coach.

Further, RA 10699 also covered the services mandated to grant discounts to national athletes and coaches such as discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals, and other similar places of culture, leisure and amusement for the actual and exclusive use and enjoyment of the national athlete and coach among others.

The council noted that all privately-owned establishments shall enjoy tax deductions equivalent to the discounts extended to the national athletes and coaches under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10699 subject to the rules and regulations to be issued by the Finance Secretary as recommended by the BIR Commissioner.

The BIR promulgated Revenue Regulation No. 13-2020 last May 27, 2020, to implement the tax privileges granted to privately-owned establishments granting sales discounts and incentives to national athletes and coaches as provided by RA 10699.

The council claimed that despite the approval of Resolution No. 355, series of 2020, majority of the privately-owned business establishments in the city are allegedly unaware of the existence and implementation of RA 10699 consequently, many of the national athletes and coaches from the city are yet to enjoy their deserved discounts.

The council tasked the Permits and Licensing Division under the City Mayor’s Office to help in disseminating the pertinent provisions of RA 10699 to the different private-owned business establishments and for the same to considering the course of the renewal and new applications for the issuance of business permits to interested owners of establishments around the city. – Dexter A. See