Senator Manuel ‘Lito’ Lapid wants Filipino professional athletes who will represent the country in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games to receive free insurance.
According to Sen. Lapid, this insurance protection will cover athletes who are competing for the country in terms of sports, both here and abroad.
Through this, the Kapampangan Senator, who also chairs the Senate Committee on games, amusements, and sports, filed Senate Bill 1152, also known as the “Professional Filipino Athletes Insurance Benefits Act,” to recognize the hard work of athletes who represent themselves for the country.
The said bill, if passed into law, will direct the Games and Amusement Board and the Philippine Sports Commission to cover the medical expenses, travel insurance, death benefits, among others, of athletes competing in any international professional sports competition or in other equally prestigious world championship games, whether individual or team event.
The upcoming SEA Games is composed of the biggest delegation with 1,115 athletes and 753 coaches.
The event will kick-off on November 30.