Senator Franklin Drilon criticized my remarks in one of my recent press briefings where I cited the need to enact a law to exempt the winnings and prizes of Hidilyn Diaz from tax payment.

While the good senator mentioned Republic Act 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, signed into law in 2015, there is still the donor's tax, which must be shouldered/paid by generous individuals or entities.

The donations given to our athletes are excluded from the computation of the athletes' gross income under the Tax Code. This, however, presupposes that the donors have already paid the donor's tax. The donor tax rate, which incidentally was lowered with the signing of the TRAIN Law to 6% in excess of Php250,000. Having said this, we thank the Bureau of Internal Revenue for issuing this clarification.

Let us therefore continue to show our hearfelt gratitude and support to all Filipino athletes who tirelessly work and train hard to bring honor and glory to the country. We pray for their continued success.

SEC. HARRY ROQUE

Manila, 31 July 2021