Sa pagkapanalo ng silver medal sa Rio Olympics, naghihintay kay weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz ang insentibong nagkaka­halaga ng P5 milyon at iba pa, ayon kay Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.

Ipinaliwanag ni ­Angara, may-akda ng Republic Act No. 10699 o ang National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, si Diaz ay awtomatikong bibigyan ng P5 milyon.

Ang naturang batas ang siyang nagtaas sa cash incentives at benefits ng winning athletes, coaches at trainers.

Bukod dito, mabibigyan din ng scholarship at retirement benefits si Dia­z na katumbas ng 25 percent ng lahat ng napanalunan sa kanyang career.

“These incentives and benefits shall be over and above the standard national athlete benefits that include discounts in lodging,­ transportation, medicine, sports equipment, amusement, free medical and dental consultation, PhilHealth and SSS coverage, priority in housing programs and loans, and the use of living quarters,” paliwanag ng senador.

Naghain din ng reso­lusyon si Angara para­ papurihan ang makasay­sayang pagkapanalo ni Diaz sa weightlifting, kauna-unahan sa isang Filipina na nanalo ng silver medal sa Olympics.

Nasungkit ni Diaz ang medalya nang buhatin ang 200 kilogram sa women’s 53-kg categor­y ng weightlifting. Siya rin ang unang taga-Mindanao na nakakuha ng medalya sa Olympics.

“Being first of many triumphs in Philippine sports history, Diaz’s silver medal is truly momentous. She is also the first Olympic medalist to benefit from the Nationa­l Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives law or Republic Act 10699 which we authored and sponsored last year.

Under the new law, she will be receiving P5 million in cash incentive tax-free. Kung nanalo siya noong 2012, P2.5 million lang ang matatanggap niya,” ayon kay Angara, vice-chairman ng Senate committee on sports.