Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao finally made his presence felt in the House of Representatives on Wednesday by filing a bill seeking to grant cash and non-monetary benefits and incentives to the country’s national athletes.

Pacquiao, now a congressman representing the lone district of Sarangani, co-authored HB 939 which will amend Republic Act 9064, otherwise known as the National Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001.”

Together with Rep. Mark Sambar of the PBA Party-list, Pacquiao urged his fellow lawmakers to grant Filipino athletes, who have represented the country in international events, health insurance benefits and discounts in establishments, similar to the privileges extended to senior citizens.

Included in the incentives program are trainers and coaches who were able to bring honor to the country by winning international sporting events.

“Government should have institutionalized by now a genuine program that can assure their legacy and justly reward them for their struggles in their attempts to give honor and pride to our country and people,” explained Pacquiao and Sambar.

Sambar is the lone nominee of PBA Party-list which is chaired by Pacquiao.

Alex Lerona, chief of staff of Sambar, told Manila Bulletin that the two lawmakers are asking Congress the grant of at least P20,000 monthly lifetime pension for athletes who capture medals in international competitions such as the Olympics and regional competitions.

Pacquiao and Sambar pointed out that while RA 9064 already provides benefits and incentives for athletes and coaches, but such grants are “still not enough.”

“We constantly tell them, ‘hindi pwede ang pwede na’ and that they must meet if not surpass our expectations of them but even the basic benefits and incentives we provide them fall short of their expectations,” the two authors stated.

They stressed that sportsmen should not be freed from worry and feeling of insecurities by thinking about their “uncertain future.”

“The optimism is immense in that if the Filipino athlete is not distracted by basic matters of feeding his family, putting their children through school, and dealing with matters that only make their focus wane, the “Filipino athlete will achieve what many think is an improbable goal,” they explained.

Pacquiao, now ranked as among the greatest athletes in the world, said government should give to the athletes the benefits and incentives that they may enjoy once they have retired.

“They have given their utmost best for the country and in return, we can only equally accord them tour utmost best as well,” he pointed out.