PHILIPPINES Trends and Developments Contributed by: Ignatius Michael D Ingles and Daphne Marie M Gomez, The Law Firm of Ingles Laurel Calderon
Should it be passed into law, the National Athletes’ Rights Protection Act has the potential to redefine and reshape sports development in the Philippines at a critical time where more and more Filipino athletes are excelling at a global stage. The Bill is athlete-centric, putting more emphasis on investing in the physical and mental wellbeing of athletes to ensure the Philip - pines’ success in international games, as opposed to merely investing financially in NSAs. In the eyes of the rest of the world, these seem like basic and foundational stuff, but sadly, it is in these basic and foundational matters where Philippine sports is found lacking.
The Bill recognises athletes as humans first, recog - nising the effects of training and competition on their bodies and the effects on their mental health of car - rying the country on their shoulders. It further recog - nises the difficulty of transitioning into the traditional workforce, after dedicating their youth and/or early adulthood to perfecting their craft. With the overall holistic approach of this Bill to supporting and invest - ing in athletes as individuals, it will strengthen the foundation of Philippine sports in the country’s hopes for further international success without prejudicing the rights, interests and wellbeing of those who toil for it in the first place: the national and NTP athletes.
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