By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Like any big winners, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is also giving cash incentive to pole vaulter EJ Obiena for his record-breaking performance in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon recently.
That, despite Obiena’s already winning P$22,000 (roughly P1.2 million) for finishing third in the grandest athletics event.
PSC Officer-in-Charge Atty. Guillermo Iroy did not mention the exact amount of the incentive but the government sports agency had rewarded Obiena P250,000 several times in the past for breaking the national and Asian records.
“We’re still waiting for the official report from PATAFA,” Iroy said. “For us, we will recommend an incentive for the record broken once the board convenes.”
At the Oregon meet, Obiena eclipsed his own national and Asian mark of 5.93 meters by clearing 5.94m.
Iroy, however, said the agency could not give incentives to the bronze-medal feat since “competitions granting prize money shall not be included” according to the expanded National Athletics and Coaches Incentives Act.
“For the regular incentive, considering that it is a competition with cash prizes, we will follow the law,” Iroy said.
Obiena finished with bronze behind world record holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Chris Nilsen of the United States.
The tournament offers $70,000 to gold medalists and $35,000 to silver winners.
