By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
A total of P74 million cash incentives will be awarded to medalists of the recent 32nd Southeast Asian Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games in a ceremony at the Malacañang on July 20.
President Bongbong Marcos will personally present the bonuses to more than 50 medalists, which falls under the Republic Act 10699 or the Expanded National Athletes and Coaches Incentives and Benefits Act.
Around P60 million will be given to SEAG medalists, while P14 million will be awarded to ASEAN Para Games winners.
“We are grateful for President Marcos’ decision to personally award the incentives to Team Philippines, an expression of his admiration to our national athletes and their unwavering passion and dedication for representing the country,” said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann, who will be releasing the bonuses.
Under the law, SEAG gold medalists will receive P300,000, while silver and bronze will get P150,000 and P60,000, respectively. ASEAN Para Games gold winners, meanwhile, will get P150,000 (gold), P75,000 (silver) and P30,000 (bronze).
World-champion gymnast Carlos Yulo is expected to get the biggest incentive after winning two gold and two silver medals, followed by soft tennis players Princess Catindig and Bien Zoleta, who will share the incentives after winning the women’s doubles gold and the team event gold.
Para chess player Darry Bernardo, meanwhile, leads the ASEAN Para Games medalists after collecting six gold medals, along with fellow chess player Cheyzer Mendoza, who pocketed five golds and one silver.
“In the past, the PSC conducted two separate awarding for SEAG and APG medalists, but I believe it is more fitting to join the two for the President’s first-ever incentives awarding during his administration,” said Bachmann, who will be joining the awarding ceremony together with the PSC Board of Commissioners.
Also invited to grace the ceremony are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Senate Committee on Sports Chairman Sen. Bong Go, House Committee on Youth and Sports Chairman Rep. Faustino Dy III, and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino, and other sports executives.
The PH team collected 58 gold, 85 silver and 117 bronze medals in the SEAG, while also winning a record-breaking 34 golds, 33 silvers and 50 bronzes in the ASEAN Para Games.
