By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Christmas came too early for the victorious Filipino athletes.
That’s because President Duterte doubled the incentives of all medalists in the recent 31st Southeast Asian Games as an expression of recognition and gratitude for their efforts.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez disclosed this Wednesday, less than 24 hours after athletes, coaches and officials made a courtesy call at the Malacañang Palace.
Also present at the reception were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Bambol Tolentino, Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Celia Kiram, Charles Maxey and Arnold Agustin, and Rep. Faustino Dy III, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports.
“Please know that I really recognize all the tedious preparations you have made to perform your best in this regional sports competition. Just like a father to every Filipino, I am very proud of you,” the President said in his speech for the athletes.
“I wish you all a good life para sa ginawa ninyo sa bayan. I would like to say to all of you, maraming, maraming salamat.”
Under Republic Act No. 10699, otherwise known as the National Athletes and Coaches Incentives and Benefits Act, an athlete is rewarded P300,000 for every individual gold medal won while a silver and bronze are worth P150,000 and P60,000 each.
The country won 52 gold, 70 silver and 104 bronze medals, its best-ever, non-hosting finish in the biennial meet.
This meant that the President matched the P35.53 million total cash incentives that all of the medalists received under the incentives law.
The POC is also set to give its own rewards through its regular sponsors MVP Sports Foundation, San Miguel Corporation and Ulticon Builders, Inc.
Two-time world champion Carlos Yulo, who is set to receive P1.6 million from the PSC for winning five golds and two silvers he won, now stands to pocket P3.2 million.
The dynamic dancesport duo of Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla, who bagged three golds, on the other hand, now is rewarded with P1.8 million apiece.
Double gold medalists Kim Mangrobang, who swept the triathlon and duathlon events, and billiards star Rubilen Amit, meanwhile, got P600,000 each for their performances.
Besides the bonuses, the President also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Kamagi to some of the medalists who were not recipients of the citation during the incentives ceremony held at the Palace also presided by Duterte for the country’s medalists in the 30th SEA Games in 2019.
Among those who received the honor was billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, who took the bronze medal in the men’s 1-cushion carom singles.
