THE House leadership under Speaker Lord Allan Velasco will confer the Congressional Medal of Excellence on weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for her historic gold medal win at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez said Thursday.

Romualdez said they filed House Resolution (HR) 2041 to congratulate, commend and award Diaz for her very excellent achievement.

“The House of Representatives will confer the Congressional Medal of Excellence on our national treasure, Ms. Hidilyn Diaz for being the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the Olympics,” Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules said.

“She displayed the grit and determination that our nation need right now to be able to succeed in the global fight against COVID-19,” added Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD).

Velasco, Romualdez and House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano filed HR 2041 for the House of Representatives to confer such award for the first time to Diaz.

Velasco said Diaz deserves “gratitude and recognition from every single Filipino” after clinching the very first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines.

“We thought an Olympic gold medal for the Philippines will never happen in our lifetime until it did, many thanks to Hidilyn Diaz!,” Velasco said, echoing the sentiments of Filipino sports enthusiasts.

In HR 2041 that he filed along with other House leaders and members, Velasco cited Diaz for serving as an inspiration to Filipinos, especially young women and athletes.

“Hidilyn Diaz has now inspired countless young Filipino women and girls, athletes, and young Filipino dreamers to reach for their goals and achieve their dreams,” the resolution stated.

“Hidilyn Diaz’s fighting heart and indomitable spirit has ignited hope and dreams in our country reeling from the current pandemic and economic downturn by bringing honor and pride to all Filipinos, whether in the country or abroad,” it added.

Aside from Velasco, Romualdez, and Paduano, Isabela 5th District Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe also authored the resolution.

Velasco, Romualdez and Paduano also filed HR 1981 seeking to institutionalize the Congressional Medal of Excellence for national athletes who win the gold medal at the Olympic Games, which they described as “the world’s only truly global, multi-sport celebratory athletics competition.”

They said that winning the gold medal in the Olympic Games signifies the singular highest level of achievement of an athlete.

“There is a need for the House of Representatives to institutionalize the Congressional Medal of Excellence to particularly give honor and commendation to these exceptional modern-day national heroes in sports who win the gold medal in the Olympic Games,” the House leaders said in the resolution.

“This award will immortalize their achievements and give them a legacy to leave behind by providing future generations with inspirational lessons that they can take to heart,” they added.

There are currently two congressional medals being handed out by the House: Congressional Medal of Distinction and Congressional Medal of Achievement.

The Congressional Medal of Distinction is given to Filipino achievers in sports, business, medicine, science, and arts and culture; while the Congressional Medal of Achievement is awarded to political, economic, and cultural leaders, who have distinguished themselves through their life-work and their vision.

BILL TO EXEMPT HIDILYN DIAZ PRIZES FROM TAXES FILED

House Assistant Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo proposed that Congress exempts from taxation millions in prizes Diaz and other national athletes stand to receive from the government and private donors.

In House Bill (HB) 9888 filed Thursday, Castelo said it is not clear in the existing law “if these prizes and donations are subject to taxes.”

“The law does not expressly exempt those prizes and donations given by third parties from donor’s taxes. It only exempts the awards and prizes gained by the athletes from the local and national competitions themselves, and not those given by third parties,” Castelo said.

Castelo said her bill “intends to expressly exempt all donations given by reason of local and international competitions from the payment of donor’s taxes, including those given by private entities.”

“The tax exemption would encourage the private sector to give bigger rewards to our national athletes,” she stressed.

As of the last count, Diaz stands to receive more than P40 million in cash, including P3 million from President Duterte. The House of Representatives is raising up to P10 million as additional reward.

The champion weightlifter has also been promised a condominium unit and free airline tickets.

Castelo said a six-percent donor’s tax on the minimum P40 million Diaz would receive would amount to P2.4 million.

“It’s a big sum donors could give to other athletes, their coaches and support teams, instead of paying it to the government,” Castelo said.

HOUSE TARGETS UP TO P10M IN CASH INCENTIVES FOR HIDILYN, OTHER OLYMPIC MEDALISTS

Velasco has initiated a “pass the hat” drive among members of the House of Representatives to raise P5 million to P10 million in cash incentives for champion weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and other medalists in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

This was revealed by Deputy Speaker and 1-PACMAN Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero when he guested at the virtual Ugnayan sa Batasan news forum.

“From the House, Speaker Velasco has initiated a move. He started with P200,000 and passing the hat to every congressman and congresswoman to contribute for additional incentive for Hidilyn,” Romero said.

“I think the incentive will go to as far as P5 million to P10 million. As we speak, the ‘pass the hat’ has started and we already have P4 million from various congressmen,” he added.

But Deputy Speaker and AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin clarified that “due to popular demand and upon the advice of the House leadership, the prize money will be pooled and shall be gifted to all Filipino athletes that will bring home Olympic medals for the country, and not just for Hidilyn in case.”

Romero, a long-time sports patron, will also grant Diaz an additional cash incentive worth P3 million, noting that her win ended the country’s 97 years of aspiration for the elusive Olympic gold medal.

Romero even showed news reporters the P3 million check he would give Diaz once she comes back to the Philippines.

Diaz made history and brought pride and glory to the Philippines after winning the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It is the country’s first-ever gold medal win after 97 years.

In the same media forum, Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said Diaz, whom he considers the country’s sports hero, should be accorded all the honors that is due her.

“If we will be needing a sports ambassador, she can represent our country in any sports event and to be able to raise the flag of Philippine sports,” Abante said.

Several House members have filed resolutions commending Diaz for her historic win.

Romero also mentioned that he will push for the creation of the Department of Sports in an effort to address the challenges of training funds for Filipino athletes.

“With the Department of Sports, it will have the mandate to put as many infrastructure as possible. Our athletes need to train outside of the Philippines because we don’t have enough infrastructure and facilities,” he said.

Romero said he will speak with Speaker Velasco and his colleagues in the House to ask for support on the measure’s approval.

Abante expressed his agreement on the measure, citing that it is high time to prioritize sports in the Philippines.

“Once we have a Department of Sports, we can then compete internationally, as far as even promoting international sports in the Philippines,” Abante pointed out.

BTS COMMENDS HIDILYN

Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies from the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso on Wedmesday filed HR 2045 commending Diaz.

The proposed resolution aims to recognize Diaz for ending the country’s 97-year Olympic gold medal drought by winning a gold medal in the women’s division of the 55-kilogram weightlifting event of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

It recognizes her hard work and perseverance, having to go against all odds and obstacles, endure being away from her family in Zamboanga City, and put her studies and livelihood on hold.

“As a result of strict COVID-19 restrictions, Diaz had to battle gym closures, a lack of access to weightlifting equipment, and the uncertainty of whether the 2020 Olympic Games would be held at all,” the resolution stated.

“Diaz’s sterling achievement will serve as a motivation for our countrymen, who have been weary of the hardships brought about by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,” it added.

The proposed resolution also recognizes Diaz as the epitome of the spirit of discipline, heart, and determination – qualities that will inspire and motivate the youth to persevere in becoming their best.

“Her extraordinary feat of representing the country and bringing it honor, even in the face of trials and the pandemic, will propel our athletes to perform to their utmost abilities in sporting events in the future,” it said.

“Diaz will forever be an inspiration to the youth and an epitome of women empowerment, proving that the Filipino and the Filipina can compete with the best in the world,” the resolution continued.

It has been an established tradition of the House of Representatives to recognize outstanding achievement of Filipino individuals who bring pride and honor to the country by excelling in their respective fields.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, by the House of Representatives, to congratulate and commend Hidilyn Diaz for her outstanding drive, discipline and determination, being the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the Olympic Games, bringing honor and international recognition to the Philippines,” the resolution concluded.

H.R. No. 2045 was filed by Cayetano, Taguig 2nd District Rep. Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetanno, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte Jr., Batangas Rep. Raneo “Ranie” Abu, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor, and Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio “Kuya” Sy-Alvarado.