PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. is expected to seek a third term of office in the country’s highest sports body.
Sources said Cojuangco is interested in extending his tenure to another four years, from 2016 to 2020.
At the moment no one is expected to challenge his post. Officials in the present POC leadership are focused on pushing programs, which will help athletes perform better in international competitions.
“We look forward to the entry of new people with ideas and new leadership who will work with the present leadership. We would like to maintain programs that the POC president has started,” said POC chairman Tom Carrasco.
These programs involve conditioning, nutrition and rehabilitation which have been crafted over the last four years.
With Republic Act 10699 – or the National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001 – in place, sports officials expect athletes to perform even better in international meets.
“I suppose, the ground will be prepared for our athletes to perform better,”said Carrasco.
The law aims to increase the amount of cash incentives given to winning athletes, coaches and trainers. It will also include athletes with disabilities in the grant of benefits and incentives.
For the Olympic Games, the gold medalists will be granted P10 million, the silver medalists will get P5 million and the bronze medalists will receive P2 million. For the Asian Games, the gold medalists will be entitled to P2 million cash incentives, the silver medalists will pocket P1 million and the bronze medalists will get P400,000.
As for the SEA Games, gold medalists will get P300,000, silver medalists will receive P150,000 and bronze medalists will pocket P60,000 each.